Life/Art Ensemble takes dance into the world

When many people think of starting a dance organization, they probably conjure up images of children or teenagers awkwardly guring out how to get their feet to do what their minds want them to. But Life/Art Dance Ensemble got its start in 2009 with a di erent audience in mind.

“I am a registered dietitian nutritionist and my very rst job out of college was with Volunteers of America, Colorado Branch. I co-ran the Healthy Aging program there and we would bring nutrition, exercise, and fall prevention classes to lowincome residences for older adults,” explained Jessica Riggs, artistic director and founder of Life/Art. “I also learned that entertainment budgets at these residences weren’t high and that there was a lack of quality entertainment available, particularly for those who had impaired mobility or couldn’t a ord tickets to a show.” And from that experience came the idea of bringing dance directly to older adults.

In the 14 years since its founding, the organization has expanded to o er contemporary dance performances all over the metro area.

“We work with live music and di erent creative concepts to take dance out of the theater and move it into the world,” Riggs said. “We’re trying to expose people to what dance can be and collaborate with as many di erent groups as we can.” e metro dance scene can often

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Coming Attractions

be very siloed, Riggs said, so collaboration has become a crucial feature of nearly every project the organization engages with. Some examples include the annual Life In Motion: A Colorado Dance Film Festival, which showcases Colorado dance lm artists, and the Convergence event, which is a costsharing show featuring all kinds of local dance organizations, like Rocky Mountain Rhythm and Front Range Contemporary Ballet Company. While summer is a bit of a quiet time for Life/Art when it comes to public performances, there’s always something to work on. e organization is currently preparing for this year’s Convergence performance and a dance haunted house, also slated for the fall.

But, in the meantime, the work with older adults never stops. at is due, at least in part, to the 2021 expansion of their program to feature inclusive dance classes taught in the DanceAbility method. According to Riggs, this allows the residents to be able to dance themselves, regardless of any physical limitation they might have.

“ ere are many physical, mental, and emotional bene ts to dance,” she said. “Our primary goal in serv- ing older adults is to improve their quality of life, social and mental health, mood, and overall sense of well-being.”

Find more information about Life/ Art and its work at www.lifeartdance. org/.

Explore all the arts at Denver Fringe Festival

You never know what you’re going to see at the Denver Fringe Festival, but that’s what makes it such an adventure. e fourth annual event, which runs at 12 venues all over RiNo and Five Points from ursday, June 8 through Sunday, June 11, brings more than 150 performances to audiences thirsting for something original.

According to provided information, the festival will feature “eight original plays, six immersive experiences, a two-day KidsFringe with free shows for families, street performances” and more. With the aim of promoting access to the arts and showcasing diverse artistic voices, you really can’t go wrong. All the details can be found at https://denverfringe.org/.

Films for Foodies kicks o with ‘Chef’ e clever folks at Denver Film, Dazzle and Denver Arts & Venues have gone and added to food, music and a night under the stars to an already great activity — a night at the movies.

ey’re kicking o their Films for Foodies series on Tuesday, June 13 with a screening of Jon

Favreau’s “Chef” at the Galleria @ Denver Performing Arts Complex, 1400 Curtis St. in Denver. On the music side, Raul Murciano’s Colorado Mambo Orchestra will be performing, and Fritay Haitian Cuisine, Areyto Puerto Rican Food and HipPOPs food trucks will be on hand serving food.

Get all the information for this delicious cinematic evening at www. artscomplex.com/events/summerat-the-arts-complex.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Cub Sport at the Marquis postal mail. Put the words “letter to the editor” in the email subject line.

It is di cult to put a nger on the kind of music Australia’s Cub Sport makes. ere are elements of electronic-based groups like Cut Copy, to be sure, as well as alternative-leaning pop like e 1975 and Walk the Moon. But really, their style is all their own. All I know is, their fth album, “Jesus at the Gay Bar,” is one of the year’s best thus far. It’s fun and funky and gets you moving but makes you a bit sad, too. It has something for everyone.

In support of the album, the Cub Sport will be performing at the Marquis, 2009 Larimer St., Denver, at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14. ey’ll be joined for the show by opener crêpe girl. Get tickets at www. livenation.com.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail. com.

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Thu 6/15

Ava Maybee: if we're being honest tour @ 6pm

Ogden Theatre, 935 E Colfax Ave, Denver

Jason Boland & The Stragglers w/ Jeremy McComb @ 8pm Globe Hall - CO, 4483 Logan St., Denver, CO 80216, Denver

The Ephinjis @ 9pm Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver

Fri 6/16

ILLENIUM: Trilogy: PreParty @ 7pm Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St,, Den‐ver

Featured

KGNU Presents TAARKA at Swallow Hill @ 8pm Swallow Hill, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver

Sat 6/17

Max Styler with Kyle Kinch & Erin Stereo @ 12pm X Denver, 3100 Inca St, Denver

Amorphous Presents: The Ampli�cation Tour @ 7pm Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Denver

Sun 6/18

City Park Denver Public Art Tour @ 10am Denver Arts and Venues, Varies Locations for Public Art Tours, Denver

Vibes In The Park: Continuing the Juneteenth Celebration - 21+ @ 8pm / $20 Summit, 1902 Blake St, Denver

Mon 6/19

Jack Kays @ 8pm Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St,, Den‐ver

Temples @ 8pm Bluebird Theater, 3317 E Colfax Av, Den‐ver

Grandson @ 8pm

Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St, Den‐ver

Tue 6/20

Black Moon Howl @ 8pm Mercury Cafe, 2199 California St, Denver

Featured

Rotating Tap

Comedy @ Landlocked Ales @ 8pm LandLocked Ales, 3225 S Wadsworth Blvd, Lake‐wood

Film On The Rocks: Black Panther @ 7pm Red Rocks Amphithe‐atre, 18300 West Alameda Parkway, Morrison

Featured Featured

Post Animal @ 8pm Bluebird Theater, 3317 E Colfax Av, Denver

Featured Featured

Tai Verdes @ 7pm Red Rocks Amphithe‐atre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morri‐son

Stephanie Poetri @ 8pm Globe Hall, 4483 Lo‐gan St, Denver

Comedian Jenny Zigrino: Jenny Zigrino in Denver! @ 8pm The Black Buzzard, 1624 Market St, Den‐ver

Lyn Lapid @ 8pm Globe Hall, 4483 Lo‐gan St, Denver

Wed 6/21

Downtown Denver Public Art Walking Tour @ 5:30pm Denver Arts and Venues, Varies Locations for Public Art Tours, Denver

Lolita Worldwide: LADAMA at Levitt Pavilion with Lolita @ 6pm Levitt Pavilion Denver, 1380 W Florida Ave, Denver

Featured Featured

Arden Jones @ 7pm Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Denver

Whiskey Wednesday @ Stranahan's! - Presented by Rotating Tap Comedy @ 8pm Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey, 200 S Kalamath St, Denver Elf Power @ 8pm Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver