Opening Night
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
Performance Details
Join us at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater for a screening of the Vail Dance Festival: Digital Edition of Opening Night. Guests will have the opportunity to view never-before-seen footage, unique moments, and performances from the past 10 years including new works, debuts, and revivals that have only been seen in Vail. This special event is hosted from afar by Artistic Director Damian Woetzel, with appearances by a range of the extraordinary dancers and musicians who have made Vail a summer laboratory for creative collaboration.
Before the show, enjoy dinner and cocktails at one of our favorite restaurants in Vail!
THE FITZ – Located in Manor Vail Lodge, The Fitz Bar is the perfect place to pick up a quick bite to eat and drink while town or heading over to Ford Park. Simply walk-in and order directly from their bar or pre-order by contacting The Fitz directly at 970-476-4959. If dining-in on the outdoor patio, all ordered items will be delivered to your table. If you wish to take your order to-go, everything will be packaged safely for you to take with you. The FITZ is offering 10% off if you mention the Vail Dance Festival.
BULLY RANCH – Bully Ranch provides a warm respite after a day of mountain adventure. Warm-up with their famous mudslide, or feast on their renowned burgers and sandwiches. Bully offers a beautiful patio in the summer! Round-up friends for lunch or dinner and enjoy their Southwestern and American menu.
SWEET BASIL – Located in Vail Village, Sweet Basil is a creative, modern American restaurant. The menu features seasonal imaginative cuisine with an array of diverse influences. Serving lunch and dinner daily.
MOUNTAIN STANDARD – From the creators of the legendary Sweet Basil, Mountain Standard is a rustic and relaxed tavern setting a new standard in the Vail valley by using an ancient form of cooking. The majority of Mountain Standard’s menu is prepared via the most primal cooking method: over an open and live wood fire. The only restaurant in the valley to devote themselves to this age-old way of cooking, the food at this exciting new restaurant has rustic, bold and honest flavors, focusing on the purest ingredients in the Rocky Mountain region and beyond. Service, like the cuisine, has that perfect balance of providing a first class dining experience with a more casual vibe. There is no smoke and mirrors here – no fuss – just simple, honest, from the heart service and cooking. The beauty of the creek side location is mirrored by the high energy vibe of this dynamic restaurant.
PEPI’S – Pepi’s is an intimate, family-owned restaurant and bar located in Vail Village. They offer live entertainment seven days a week and serve dinner nightly. Lunch is available daily on Vail’s largest and sunniest deck. On the evening of the screening, Pepi’s will offer a $30 special on Striped Bass with Heirloom Tomatoes Scampi.
LA TOUR – Chef owned and operated, La Tour is a sophisticated French bistro with creative yet elegant dishes & a comprehensive wine list. Serving Lunch and Dinner daily in the heart of Vail Village. View the menu HERE.
OPENING NIGHT WILL INCLUDE:
Celebrate the Beat: a tribute to Aretha Franklin
Music: Aretha Franklin Medley
Choreography by Ellen Weinstein, Tracy Straus, Kris Ashley
Dancers: the children of Celebrate the Beat with James Whiteside
Keyboard: Tony Kierlado
Keyboard: Jacob Lidard
Drums: Larry Dutmer
Trumpet: Connor Williams
Filmed at the 2019 Vail Dance Festival
Suite from Mazurkas (1958)
Music by Frédéric Chopin
Posthumous A Minor
Choreography by José Limón © José Limón Dance Foundation, Inc.
Dancers: Tiler Peck and Robert Fairchild
Piano: Cameron Grant
Filmed at the 2016 Vail Dance Festival
Apollo (1928) excerpt
Music by Igor Stravinsky
Choreography by George Balanchine. © The George Balanchine Trust.
Dancers: Unity Phelan and Calvin Royal III
Music: Brooklyn Rider, Double Bass: Kate Davis
Filmed at the 2019 Vail Dance Festival
Suite of Dances (1994) excerpt
Music by Johann Sebastian Bach
Choreography by Jerome Robbins. ©The Robbins Rights Trust.
Dancer: Herman Cornejo
Cello: Anne Richardson
Filmed at the 2018 Vail Dance Festival
Thousandth Orange (2019 Vail Commissioned World Premiere)
Music by Caroline Shaw
Choreography by Tiler Peck
Dancers: Isabella Boylston, India Bradley, Herman Cornejo, Christopher Grant, Lauren Lovette, Roman Mejia
Piano: Kurt Crowley
Violin: Colin Jacobsen
Viola: Nicholas Cords
Cello: Michael Nicolas
Filmed at the 2019 Vail Dance Festival
24t h (2019 Vail Commissioned World Premiere)
Music by Caroline Shaw
Choreography by Lil Buck
Artists: Lil Buck with Caroline Shaw
Filmed at the 2019 Vail Dance Festival
This Bitter Earth (2012 Vail Commissioned World Premiere)
Music by Dinah Washington and Max Richter
Choreography by Christopher Wheeldon
Dancers: Isabella Boylston, Calvin Royal III
Music: Kate Davis, Catalyst Quartet
Filmed at the 2016 Vail Dance Festival
Elégie (1982)
Music by Igor Stravinsky
Choreography by George Balanchine. © The George Balanchine Trust.
Lighting by M.L. Geiger
Dancer: Carla Körbes
Viola: Nicholas Cords
Filmed at the 2012 Vail Dance Festival
1・2・3・4・5・6 (2016 Vail Commissioned World Premiere)
Music based on a rhythm by Steve Reich
Choreography and improvography by the Artists
Developed by Damian Woetzel and Michelle Dorrance
Lighting by M.L. Geiger
Dancers: Michelle Dorrance, Melissa Toogood, Lil Buck, Robert Fairchild
Filmed at the 2016 Vail Dance Festival
Fandango (2010 Vail Commissioned World Premiere, New Staging 2019)
Music by Luigi Boccherini
Choreography by Alexei Ratmansky
Dancer: Roman Mejia
Music by: Brooklyn Rider
Guitar: Alberta Khoury
Percussion: Dario Natarelli
Filmed at the 2019 Vail Dance Festival