Opening Night
Friday Jul 31, 2026 7:00 pm
GERALD R. FORD AMPHITHEATER
An evening of dance at special prices, featuring Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet, BalletX, celebrating its 20th anniversary season, closes out this year’s festivities with a thrilling performance featuring Matthew Neenan’s acclaimed dance The Last Glass, set to the music of the band Beirut.
Join us for this special community celebration to close out the Festival with special prices including pavilion seats for just $20.25! In recognition of our extraordinary dance community in the Vail Valley, we are delighted to extend a special benefit to our guests by waiving the standard 8% facility ticket fees for this event.
Generously Underwritten by the Discover Vail.
Casting and repertory are subject to change.
Photo credit: View from the lawn at Dance for $20.24. Photo by Chris Kendig.
Ticketing
MORE TICKETING INFORMATION:
- Children 12 and under receive free admission on the lawn
with the purchase of an adult ticket. - Ticket prices are subject to change.
Questions? Contact the Box Office at [email protected] or call 970.845.TIXS(8497)
Gates open one hour prior to showtime.
Meet the Performers
Eli Alford
Eli Alford (Dancer) received his BFA in dance from the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance under the direction of Jodie Gates and William Forsythe where he learned and performed the works of Ohad Naharin, Jiri Kylian, Justin Peck, Merce...
Itzkan Barbosa
Itzkan Barbosa (Dancer) danced with Miami City Ballet and NY Theater Ballet, where she performed works by Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Antony Tudor, and more. She also performs contemporary and aerial dance with Dzul Dance and is a Principal Artist with...
Luca De-Poli
Luca De-Poli (Dancer) attended the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and began his career with the Cincinnati Ballet Second Company. He’s performed works by Ma Cong, Ohad Naharin, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Nicolo Fonte, Justin Peck, and others. Luca joined...
Francesca Forcella
Francesca Forcella (Dancer) danced with the Washington Ballet Studio Company, Los Angeles American Contemporary Ballet, and Houston Ballet II, where she toured internationally, representing Houston Ballet at the International Youth Dance Festival in Budapest, Hungary. Francesca joined BalletX in 2013.
Savannah Green
Savannah Green (Dancer) studied at Manhattan Youth Ballet and LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. She graduated with a BFA from the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 2017, performing works by Jose Limon, Andrea Miller, and Anna Halprin....
Lanie Jackson
Lanie Jackson (Dancer) danced with Ballet Virginia after graduating from The Juilliard School where she performed works by Gentian Doda, Andrea Miller, James B. Whiteside, and Matthew Neenan, and participated in residencies with Ohad Naharin of Batsheva Dance Company. Lanie...
Mathis Joubert
Mathis Joubert (Dancer) is a former member of Visceral Dance Chicago, ‘Verb’ Ohio Contemporary Ballet, and Bad Boys of Ballet. He also performed at the Concert of Paris, Riyadh Season Festival, and Paris Fashion Week. He has been featured as...
Jared Kelly
Jared Kelly (Dancer) trained at The Washington School of Ballet, Baltimore School for the Arts, and Indiana University Ballet Theatre, where he graduated with a BS in Ballet. Jared has performed works by George Balanchine, Martha Graham, Jerome Robbins, Twyla...
Eileen Kim
Eileen Kim (Dancer) received her BFA in dance from the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance and danced with the Universal Ballet in Seoul, South Korea, and Cincinnati Ballet. Eileen performed featured roles by George Balanchine, Justin Peck, Jiří Kylián,...
Skyler Lubin
Skyler Lubin (Dancer) danced as a member of the Corps de Ballet with Miami City Ballet from 2010-2014. She has performed featured roles including Flower Festival pas de deux, Swan Lake pas de trios, and Jerome Robbins’ Afternoon of a...
Jonathan Montepara
Jonathan Montepara (Dancer), from Orsogna (Italy), graduated from the Balletto di Roma. He danced for American Repertory Ballet, and has worked with Ethan Stiefel, Amy Hall Garner, Loughlan Prior, Jennifer Archibald, Matthew Neenan, Jamar Roberts, Caili Quan, and other international...
Jerard Palazo
Jerard Palazo (Dancer) studied at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Professional Division, Toronto Dance Theatre, Ailey School, Jacob's Pillow Contemporary Program, and Nederlands Dans Theatre. He has worked with Nai Ni Chen Dance Company, Peridance Company, and Lavagnino Dance. Jerard...
Minori Sakita
Minori Sakita (Dancer) trained at the Maryland Youth Ballet and Houston Ballet Academy. She danced with Tulsa Ballet and Cincinnati Ballet, and has performed principal roles in works by Victoria Morgan, John Cranko, André Prokovsky, Derek Dean, Balanchine, and Septime...
Ben Schwarz
Ben Schwarz (Dancer) trained at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and The School of American Ballet. He has originated roles in works by Alysa Spires, Norbert De La Cruz III, Silas Farley, and Preston Chamblee, and performed in Balanchine classics such...
Ashley Simpson
Ashley Simpson (Dancer) studied at W. Dreyfoos High School of the Arts and Ailey/Fordham, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and as a Denise Jefferson Scholar. She is a Princess Grace Honoraria winner and has been featured in Dance Magazine...
Peter Weil
Peter Weil (Dancer) trained at The Metropolitan Ballet Academy, Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, and Orlando Ballet. He danced with Philadelphia Ballet, where he performed world premieres by Matthew Neenan, Helen Pickett, and Garrett Smith. Peter...
Community Arts Access
To learn more about attending a performance through our Community Arts Access program or providing support to eliminate socioeconomic barriers to the arts, please contact Martha Brassel ([email protected])