Critics love to argue about the health — or lack thereof — of contemporary dance, much as all performing artists perpetually fret about their underfunded, culturally threatened disciplines.
Jennifer Homans, the esteemed dance critic for The New Republic, even closes her new book, “Apollo’s Angels,” with the assertion that ballet is dead.
Yep, buried. Kaput.
Predictably, it drew a swift (if relatively sympathetic) response from New York Times critic Alastair Macaulay last week, who argued that ballet has, in fact, died many times — only to be continually resurrected by new generations.
Homans’ assertion may also come as a surprise to the dozens of local and national companies descending on Colorado in the next few months, many of whom are embracing a mix of classical, modern and collaborative forms to continue pushing dance into the new century.
From New York’s famed Parsons Dance to premieres from Ballet Nouveau Colorado and tours from Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and acclaimed Chinese dancer Yu Wei, the late winter season offers something for the head, heart and feet.
Here are 10 of the best:
“Tempus Fugit,”Louder Than Words Dancetheatre, Friday-Saturday, Denver School of the Arts Studio Theatre. Artistic director Chris Harris, an artist in residence at the Denver School of the Arts, will premier new pieces and rework others for this program, which employs modern and jazz dance to explore themes of time and perception. 720-949-4480 or
“Cleo on Cleo!”Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Youth Ensemble, Friday-Saturday, CPRD Theater. Denver dance maven Cleo Parker Robinson will use this show to raise funds for her company’s “TraininGroup” trip to the International Association for Blacks in Dance Conference in Los Angeles later this month. The show includes works performed by the Youth Ensemble. 303-295-1759 or
“Yu Wei: Chinese Dance Collection,”Lakewood Cultural Center, Jan. 23. Cutting through the clutter of many Chinese cultural shows, Yu Wei presents a honed collection of dances inspired by classical literature and folk legends as much as contemporary styles. 303-987-7845 or
“Carry On,”Ballet Nouveau Colorado, Feb. 4-6, Lakewood Cultural Center; Feb. 11-13, Performing Arts Complex at PCS. Denver folk darlings Paper Bird composed a new score for this multimedia production from Ballet Nouveau Colorado artistic director Garrett Ammon. Also keep an eye out for Ballet Nouveau’s April 22-24 “Rarities & Oddities,” four “no-holds-barred” ballets by four choreographers. 303 -466-5685 or
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Feb. 19, Newman Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Denver. This 10-member company returns for a midwinter reminder of its impressive repertoire. Get there an hour before the 7:30 p.m. start time for a free “Behind the Curtain” lecture. 303-871-7720 or
“Stepping Out 2011,” Boulder Ballet, Feb. 19-20, Dairy Center for the Arts. This varied program includes pieces from artistic directors Ana Claire and Peter Davison, Becky Jancosko and Taiwanese choreographer Chung-Fu Chang. 303-444-7328 or
“Remember Me,”Parsons Dance Company, March 16, Fort Lewis College in Durango; March 17, University of Colorado at Boulder; March 19, Vilar Center for the Performing Arts in Beaver Creek. David Parsons’ respected New York contemporary dance company visits Colorado for a series of shows featuring live music from the rock-influenced, Grammy-nominated East Village Opera Company.
“Avoca: A Tale of Molly Brown,” Ballet Ariel, March 19-20, Cleo Parker Robinson Theater; March 27 at Rock Canyon High School Theatre in Littleton. Named after this unsinkable Denver socialite’s summer home, “Avoca” traces Brown’s beginnings in Leadville through her rise to fortune and fame. Augustana Arts quintet Gossamer Winds backs the program with an original score and songs from George Gershwin, Scott Joplin and Edward MacDowell. 303-945-4388 or
“Knoxville: Summer of 1915 and Other Dances,” Hannah Kahn Dance Company, April 1-2, Lakewood Cultural Center. A pair of premieres — one from Kahn and one from CU-Boulder dance professor Gabriel Masson — will be joined by three other works, including the dramatic, live music-aided title piece. 303-987-7800 or .
“Humor Me!” Helander Dance Theater, April 1-3, Dairy Center for the Arts in Boulder. Feeling less than serious? This whimsical program celebrates Helander Dance Company’s 30th anniversary with a mix of of theater, music, art and stories that “go for the jocular” over the jugular.
John Wenzel: 303-954-1642 or jwenzel@denverpost.com
