The slowly cooling weather makes the indoors a more attractive place to be, especially as Colorado’s dance companies giddily prepare their upcoming seasons.
The number and variety of midseason “Nutcracker” productions is no surprise, but the anniversary galas, high- wattage touring shows, world premieres and novel — sometimes death-defying — experiments help raise the eyebrow above its usual perch.
We surveyed the Front Range and beyond to select the best productions slated for the coming months. Here are just a few:
Friday-Saturday, “Triple Crown,” Colorado Ballet, Newman Center for the Performing Arts, 303-837-8888 or . The state’s largest, most respected ballet company opens its season with this trio of audience favorites, followed by “Swan Lake” (Oct. 11-26), “The Nutcracker” (Nov. 29-Dec. 27) and more.
Friday-Saturday, “Go and Other Dances,” Hannah Kahn Dance Company, Denver School of the Arts Studio Theater, 303-789-4181 or hannahkahndance.org. This diverse program draws from Persian classical and Norwegian music, as well as Mendelssohn to present pieces such as “Songs Without Words,” “Passing Through” and “Punctuation,” “Jumble.”
Saturday, “Gypsy Flamenco Passion,” Rene Heredia, Cherokee Ranch and Castle, 303-507-5493 or . This benefit for Cherokee Ranch features Heredia’s celebrated guitar work and dancing.
Sept. 27, Robert Moses’ Kin Dance Company, Newman Center, 303-871-7720 or . In addition to a Nov. 1 visit from the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, the Newman Center welcomes this athletic company and its adults-only “Reign Forest” and other works. (Robert Moses’ Kin also visits Fort Collins’ Lincoln Center on Sept. 24 and Boulder’s Dairy Center on Sept. 25.)
Oct. 3-5, “Small Talk,” Ballet Nouveau Colorado, Pinnacle Events Center, 303-466-5685 or . This Broomfield company opens its season with the intimate, dancer-choreographed “Small Talk.” Also watch for artistic director Garrett Ammon’s trio of innovative “rock ballets” Oct. 31-Nov. 9.
Oct. 10-12, Project Bandaloop, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, 719-389-6000 or . This free series of shows takes aerial dance to new heights as Project Bandaloop creates a site-specific show using the exterior and interior of the Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center.
Oct. 17-18, Diavolo Dance Theatre Residency, Colorado State University, 970-491-4849 . Los Angeles-based Diavolo sets up shop in Fort Collins in mid-October to celebrate the opening of CSU’s University Dance Theatre with a repertory show.
Oct. 25, “Medusa and Other Haunting Works,” David Taylor Dance Theatre, Lakewood Cultural Center, 303-789-2030 or . One of the highlights of this company’s 30th anniversary season is this production, choreographed by artistic director James Wallace. “Carmina Burana,” “Dracula,” “Bats,” “Spirits” and a new work round out the program.
Nov. 14, 21, Fall Season, Kim Robards Dance, Lakewood Cultural Center, 303-825-4847 or . Fresh off a triumphant trip to Beijing during the Olympics, this Denver- based company will premiere two new works at the Lakewood Cultural Center to kick off its 22nd season.
John Wenzel: 303-954-1642 or jwenzel@denverpost.com
