DanceAspen

Background Statement

A story of resiliency, passion, determination and generosity, DanceAspen was founded in 2021. The devastation of the global pandemic disbanded the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet performing company that had been an integral part of the Aspen community and an impactful leader in the global dance scene for 25 years. This came as a major loss not only for the community, but also the artists who had worked and trained their entire lives to build a career that allowed them to perform with a company of such prestige. This news left the dancers with two options; stay in Aspen and retire from their professional dancing careers or move and leave behind the lives and communities they built in Aspen. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, the dancers banded together to create a third option… fill the void left behind and create a new company. From here, DanceAspen was formed.

In just a few short months after its inception, DanceAspen held its inaugural performance at the Wheeler Opera House on September 17, 2021. The show was a smashing success. With an eager audience, excited to be immersed in live performance once again, “The Pieces Fall” SOLD OUT!. This diverse show consisted of seven pieces created by choreographers from around the globe and highlighted the dancers’ exquisite technique and powerful artistry. It was a performance that touched the hearts of the artists and audience alike and was a beacon of hope after a long 18 months void of live performances.

This amazing success did not come without hard work, perseverance and generosity. Starting from nothing, Laurel Winton (Executive Director) worked tirelessly to pull the pieces together and navigate the ever changing hurdles brought on by the pandemic. Meanwhile, the dancers volunteered their time and artistry to get the company off of the ground, while working other jobs throughout the valley to make a living. The story of DanceAspen quickly made its way through the dance world, inspiring choreographers to donate their pieces to the company to perform. As word got out in Aspen, the community support began to grow and DanceAspen was able to begin fundraising to pay the dancers and administrators for their time, talent and efforts in putting together this amazing show.

We put our hearts and souls on the line and were welcomed with open arms. We couldn’t be more fortunate than to live in the beautiful Rocky Mountains and get to create and share our art with a supportive and enthusiastic audience. The future is bright and DanceAspen is looking forward with excitement and gratitude for this magnificent adventure!