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 low-income 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 different 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 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 serving 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/.

Coming Attractions

Explore all the arts at Denver Fringe Festival e fourth annual event, which runs

You never know what you’re going to see at the Denver Fringe Festival, but that’s what makes it such an adventure.

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/summer-atthe-arts-complex.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Cub Sport at the Marquis

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 alternativeleaning 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.

October 28, 1935 - March 17, 2020

Celebration of life for William “Bill” Borchelt will be held on June 10 at 1 o’clock at Church of the Trans guration, Evergreen. Reception following.

Bill was active in Evergreen Community in Boy Scout leadership, did Incorporation study of Evergreen, led road paving project in Evergreen Meadows, and numerous leadership roles at Church of the Trans guration. Bill and his wife Joella designed their home in Evergreen Meadows in 1975 and resided there over 45 years. Bill attended Purdue University, belonged to Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, and graduated

Funk

from Bradley University with Civil Engineering degree.

Bill retired from a 30 year career with CDOT as Sta Construction Engineer, was a licensed Registered Professional Engineer and Land Surveyor, President of Colorado Society of Engineers, member of Sons of the American Revolution, and an Army Veteran.

Bill was born October 28, 1935 in Durham, NC and passed away March 17, 2020 at their winter home in Tucson, AZ.

Bill and Joella were married November 29, 1963 and had sons Kent (1965) and Mark (1968).

Donald Lee “Don” Funk

June 13, 1932 - May 19, 2023

Donald “Don” Lee Funk of Evergreen, Colorado passed away on May 19, 2023. Don was 90 years old.

Don was born on June 13, 1932 to his parents Adolf and Olga (Weinbrenner) Funk at their home in Hope, KS.

He graduated from Hope High School in 1950. Following high school, he attended Kansas Wesleyan and then transferred to the ROTC program at Kansas State University. He graduated from the ROTC program in 1955. He was commissioned into the United State Air Force as a pilot and was honorably discharged after 9 years of service.

Following his discharge, he ew for Pan American World Airways for 28 years. San Francisco was his home base until November 1989 when he retired to Evergreen, Co. During his years at Pan American, he met his future wife, Hannelore “Lore” Busse, who was serving as an airline purser. Don and Lore were married in Germany on February 11, 1983. ey were married for 32 years.

Don loved the outdoors and his favorite pastimes of hunting, shing, boating, gol ng, and working in his yard re ected that enjoyment. For most of his life he had Yellow Labs or Golden Retrievers by his side.

Work

He was a member of the Masons Cyrus Lodge #288 in Hope, KS from 1963 to 2021. He held the rank of Master Mason. He was also an active volunteer and member of the Blue Spruce Kiwanis located in Evergreen, CO. He was a supporter of higher education for many years by funding scholarships for Hope High School graduates and for students at Kansas State University. He also funded college saving accounts for all of his great nephews and nieces.

Don was preceded in death by his wife Lore, his parents, and brother Willis Lloyd Funk.

Don is survived by a sister-in-law Shirley Funk of Oakley, KS, a nephew, Doug (Kathy) Funk of Lawrence, KS, and nieces Terri (Chris) Albers of Oakley, KS, Susan (David) Molstad of Ellis, KS, and Kathy (Blake) Arnberger of Colby, KS. He had 11 great nephews and nieces and 1 great-great nephew and 3 great-great nieces.

A graveside service was held at the city cemetery in Hope, KS. A celebration of life service will be held at Mount Vernon Canyon Club in Golden, CO on Friday, June 16, 2023 at 1 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to Mount Evans Hospice or the Blue Spruce Kiwanis both in Evergreen, CO.

November 5, 1934 - May 23, 2023

Edgar Artz Work, aged 88, passed away May 23, 2023, after a brief illness, surrounded by family. Ed was born in Lancaster, Ohio, where he grew up. After high school, he attended Purdue University, where he was a member of the track and eld team, Army ROTC, and received a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

After graduating from Purdue, Ed served in Korea and achieved the rank of 1st Lieutenant.

After his service, Ed moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he worked as a mechanical engineer for Bendix. Shortly after, he met Pat, whom he married in 1960. ey were married until her passing on May 6th of this year.

In Ann Arbor, Ed attended the University of Michigan, where he received his masters degree in Forestry. After graduating, he moved his family to Evergreen, Colorado, where he resided until his passing. Ed worked as a scientist for the Bureau of Land Management in Lakewood, CO, until his retirement in 1990. Ed loved the outdoors. He was an avid runner, hiker, and backpacker and cared deeply about the environment. He also loved adventure travel with Pat, enjoying countries Nepal, Bhutan, China, and Russia.

He is survived by his sister JoAnn of Camarillo, CA, his sons Scott (Heather) of Tualatin, OR, Ian (Kelly) of Hawthorne, NV, and grandson Logan of San Jose, CA.

A friends and family service will be held at the Church of Trans guration for both him and Pat in Evergreen on June 24th at 1:30 pm, followed by a remembrance gathering at the church. ose wishing to honor him are encouraged to donate to the Evergreen Animal Protective League (eapl.com).