Any dance aficionado knows most companies’ regular seasons kick off in the fall, but this season wastes no time ramping up the general-audience accessibility while continuing to offer diversity and virtuosity.
The dozen or so versions of “The Nutcracker” make up the bulk of the late-season offerings, but before we hit that holiday standard there are premieres and retrospectives, introductions and encores, and novel blends of the classical and contemporary.
We surveyed the Front Range and beyond to select the best productions slated for the coming months. Here are just a few:
Hannah Kahn Dance Company If you can’t wait until the leaves change to get your dance fix, “The Long Way Back and Other Dances” is the ticket. It combines six of Kahn’s pieces choreographed from 1979 to 2007, highlighting classical-minded works (the solo-heavy “Dashes and Bolts”) and a premiere (the appropriately titled “Infusion,” which debuts four new company members).|Sept. 15-16, Shwayder Theatre, 350 S. Dahlia St., 303-789-4181 or
Colorado Ballet In addition to fall and winter favorites “Dracula” (Oct. 25-28) and “The Nutcracker” (Nov. 24-Dec. 24), Colorado’s largest dance company opens its 47th season with “Le Corsaire” (“The Pirate”). Eldar Aliev’s kinetic choreography meets colorful costumes and high-seas adventure in this production, based on the Lord Byron poem of the same name.|Oct. 5-14, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-837-8888 ext. 2, or
University of Colorado CU-Boulder’s BFA and MFA dance concerts allow a sneak peek into the voices that will help define the next generation of dance, featuring original works by Summer Templin, Valerie Gerry, Jeanine McCain and many others.|Oct. 5-7; Nov. 2-4; Dec. 7-9, Charlotte York Irey Studios, CU-Boulder campus, 303-492-8181 or theatredance
Kim Robards Dance This south Denver company kicks off its 21st season, dubbed “Bold Moves,” with the clever “3-D” event, which combines drinks and dessert with its fall dance preview.|Oct. 12-13, KRD Dance Loft, 1379 S. Inca St., 303-825-4847 or kimrobards
Ballet Nouveau Colorado This Broomfield-based company flourished under artistic director Robert Mills, who announced his departure in January. Fortunately, the 5-year-old BNC recruited Ballet Memphis star duo Garrett Ammon and Dawn Fay to grab the reins, and this season looks to be the best yet for the state’s second-largest company. In addition to a retooled “Nutcracker,” which runs Nov. 30-Dec. 9, the “Nouveau Showcase” will introduce the new artistic team and fast- paced works by company members and popular guest choreographer Chung-Fu Chang.|Nov. 2-4, Broomfield Auditorium, 3 Community Park Road, 303-466-5685 or
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Longtime rehearsal director and principal dancer Marceline Freeman, who lost her sight last year, gets her due in “Marceline – a Journey,” featuring several pieces she made famous in her 35 years with CPRD. Donald McKayle’s “Angelitos Negros,” Alvin Ailey’s “Escapades” (a world exclusive) and the debut of Millicent Johnnie’s “Sincerely, Katrina Jones” are featured in the slate, which also includes a short film of two of McKayle’s works performed by Freeman. This one-of-a-kind event is not to be missed.|Sept. 20-30, Cleo Parker Robinson Theatre, 119 Park Avenue West, 303-295-1759 or
Boulder Ballet The Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra joins this company to present “Nutcracker,” featuring 70 dancers set to Ana Claire and Peter Davison’s classical, circus-infused choreography. The live orchestra helps this one stand out.|Nov. 23- 25, Macky Auditorium, CU- Boulder campus, 303-449-1343 or
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Why would one of the region’s most respected companies split its time between Aspen and Santa Fe? To spread the love, of course. Its rendition of “The Nutcracker” is a winner, featuring 60 professional dancers, circus artists, lavish costumes and Tchaikovsky’s indelible score.|Dec. 15-16, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, 0245 Sage Way in Aspen, 877-326-2464 or
Schiff Dance Collective True II Form Hip-Hop Dance Group guests at Schiff’s Holiday Showcase, with a fund-raising silent auction for the Boulder company to follow.|Dec. 15, Core Movement Studios, 1844 55th St. in Boulder, 720-771-2737 or
Staff writer John Wenzel can be reached at 303-954-1642 or jwenzel@denverpost.com.
