PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
FRI // JUL 31 // 7:00PM Opening Night
GERALD R. FORD AMPHITHEATER, VAIL
SAT // AUG 1 // 7:00PM
Martha Graham Dance Company
GERALD R. FORD AMPHITHEATER, VAIL
SUN // AUG 2 // 6:00PM
UpClose with Damian Woetzel
GERALD R. FORD AMPHITHEATER, VAIL
MON // AUG 3 // 7:00PM State of Grace featuring Balanchine’s Serenade
GERALD R. FORD AMPHITHEATER, VAIL
TUES // AUG 4 // 6:00PM Dance for $20.26
GERALD R. FORD AMPHITHEATER, VAIL
WED // AUG 5 // 11:00AM
Watching Dance with Heather Watts
VAIL MOUNTAIN SCHOOL THEATRE, VAIL
WED // AUG 5 // 6:00PM
Rennie Harris Puremovement
VILAR PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, BEAVER CREEK
THURS // AUG 6 // 5:30PM
Dancing in the Park
AVON PERFORMANCE PAVILION AT NOTTINGHAM PARK, AVON
FRI // AUG 7 // 7:00PM
International Evenings of Dance I
GERALD R. FORD AMPHITHEATER, VAIL
SAT // AUG 8 // 5:00PM & 8:00PM
International Evenings of Dance II & III
GERALD R. FORD AMPHITHEATER, VAIL
SUN // AUG 9 // 6:00PM Colorado Dances
VILAR PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, BEAVER CREEK
MON // AUG 10 // 7:00PM
NOW: Premieres
GERALD R. FORD AMPHITHEATER, VAIL
Programming subject to change.
OPENING NIGHT
Friday // July 31 // 7:00pm
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
An all-star Opening Night will o er a thrilling preview of what’s to come at this year’s Festival, featuring performances by stars of New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and other celebrated artists, along with performances by Martha Graham Dance Company, Rennie Harris Puremovement, and Colorado Ballet. Sara Mearns and Chun Wai Chan in "ÉLÉGIE." Choreography by George Balanchine ©The George Balanchine Trust. Photo By Christopher Duggan.
MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY
Saturday // August 1 //
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
The legendary Martha Graham Dance Company takes the Vail stage for a spotlight performance—its only Colorado appearance on a centennial world tour celebrating 100 years of one of modern dance’s most influential and enduring artistic forces. The evening will feature hallowed works by Graham, along with Jamar Robert’s recent work for the company, We the People. Martha
UPCLOSE WITH DAMIAN WOETZEL
Sunday // August 2 // 6:00pm
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
For twenty years artistic director Damian Woetzel has grown the Festival into a dynamic lab for dance and music. That vision takes center stage in this year’s UpClose, as Woetzel assembles a star-studded cast for a behind-the-scenes look at what makes the Festival’s performances possible. Damian Woetzel with Festival attendees. Photo by Kyle Froman Photography.
Graham. Photo by Arnold Eagle.
STATE OF GRACE
Monday // August 3 // 7:00pm // Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
A luminous evening under the stars celebrating the beauty and harmony of dance, with extraordinary artists from American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and more of the world's great companies. Spanning generations of choreographic brilliance through repertory chosen especially for this unique program, the performance culminates with Festival stars and Colorado Ballet in George Balanchine’s magnificent Serenade, set to Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings, performed live by the National Repertory Orchestra conducted by Michael Stern. Lauren Lovette with Colorado Ballet in “Serenade” by George Balanchine. Choreography by George Balanchine ©The George Balanchine Trust. Photo by Christopher Duggan.
DANCE FOR $20.26
Tuesday // August 4 // 6:00pm
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
Experience an electrifying night of dance at unbeatable prices, with pavilion seats just $20.26 and lawn tickets only $10.26, with no service fees. Festival attendees at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. Photo by Chris Kendig.
WATCHING DANCE WITH HEATHER WATTS
Wednesday // August 5 // 11:00am // Vail Mountain School Theatre
Legendary Balanchine ballerina Heather Watts hosts an interactive exploration of dance repertory through live demonstrations with Festival artists and historical video footage. Tiler Peck and Herman Cornejo demonstrate an excerpt from Balanchine's “Apollo” with Heather Watts. Choreography © The George Balanchine Trust. Photo by Erin Baiano.
RENNIE HARRIS PUREMOVEMENT
AMERICAN STREET DANCE THEATER: NUTTIN’ BUT A WORD
Wednesday // August 5 // 6:00pm // Vilar Performing Arts Center
Making their Festival debut, Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater is a trailblazer. Rooted in hip hop’s rich history but charged with innovation, this performance will celebrate individuality, rhythm, and artistry, proving that street dance isn’t just a culture—it’s a commanding, electrifying force. Rennie Harris Puremovement
American Street Dance Theater dancers perform “Nuttin’ but a Word.” Photo by Steven Pisano.
DANCING IN THE PARK
Thursday // August 6 // 5:30pm Avon Performance Pavilion
Pack a picnic, bring a blanket or lawn chairs, and gather with friends and family at the lakeside
INTERNATIONAL EVENINGS OF DANCE I, II & III
Friday // August 7 // 7:00pm
Saturday // August 8 // 5:00pm & 8:00pm
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
A defining Vail tradition since 1993, International Evenings of Dance are legendary for their glittery celebration of artistic collaboration with unique “only in Vail” partnerships and role debuts by a selection of today’s dance stars from around the world. Brooks Landegger and Chloe Misseldine in "Tchaikovsky Pas De Duex." Choreography by George Balanchine ©The George Balanchine Trust. Photo By Christopher Duggan.
COLORADO DANCES
Sunday // August 9 // 6:00pm // Vilar Performing Arts Center
Two Rocky Mountain powerhouses light up the Vilar stage
— Colorado Ballet and Cleo Parker Robinson Dance — both celebrated for their artistic excellence, cultural impact, and enduring contributions to American dance. Left: Jennifer Grace with Mario Labrador & Liam Hogan in S. Rachmaninoff by Yoshihisa Arai. Photo by Jeff Kearney/Green Box Arts. Right: Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. Photo by Christopher Duggan.
NOW: PREMIERES
Monday // August 10 // 7:00pm // Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
Under the leadership of Artistic Director Damian Woetzel, the Vail Dance Festival has premiered more than 130 original works over the past two decades. This evening celebrates 20 years of bold new dance and music with world premieres and an extraordinary, genre-spanning cast of Festival artists. Choreographers will include Artist-In-Residence Alexei Ratmansky, Robert Battle, Larry Keigwin, Tiler Peck, Pam Tanowitz, and first time Festival choreographers Chun Wai Chan and Amanda Treiber. Roman Mejia rehearses with Alexei Ratmansky. Photo by Erin Baiano.
VISIT
ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
2026 ALEXEI RATMANSKY
Acclaimed choreographer Alexei Ratmansky will join the Vail Dance Festival as Artist-In-Residence for 2026. Throughout the season, he will stage works from his celebrated repertory, including Fandango, originally commissioned by the Festival in 2010, and he will create a new ballet for the Now: Premieres performance on August 10. We are honored to welcome Alexei Ratmansky, one of the most visionary choreographic voices of his generation, to the Festival for the first time.
By supporting the Vail Dance Festival, you receive benefits including premium seating, rehearsal access, pre-show and post-show gatherings, and more. Support great art and make the most of your experience by donating today at vaildance.org/support YOUR
Unity Phealan and Calvin Royal III at the Vail Dance Festival.
Photo by Christopher Duggan.
TICKET PACKAGES
ENCORE CLUB PASS
Receive one lawn ticket to all 9 performance at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, over $75 in savings!
PICK 3
Enjoy 20% off the best available seating to three select performances at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater.
LAWN TICKET 4-PACK
Enjoy ballet with your besties and receive a discount when you buy lawn tickets in a group of four to select performances.
PAY YOUR AGE
Receive the best available seats at a big discount. 18-30 Year-olds are invited to ‘Pay Your Age’ for reserved seating at select performances.
KIDS FREE ON THE LAWN
Children 12 and under receive free entry when accompanied by an adult with a paid lawn ticket.
STUDENT & FACULTY
Students and faculty may purchase discounted lawn tickets to performances at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater.
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