NOW: Premieres

Performance Details

GERALD R. FORD AMPHITHEATER

For two decades under the artistic leadership of Damian Woetzel, the Vail Dance Festival has stood at the forefront of innovation—where groundbreaking music and dance come vividly to life in the present moment. Since 2007, the Festival has premiered more than 145 original works by some of the world’s most visionary choreographers and composers, creating a singular platform for bold artistic collaboration across genres.

NOW celebrates the 20th anniversary of Woetzel’s artistic vision with an evening of newly-created works developed in collaboration with Festival artists. Featuring daring choreography, inventive musical partnerships, and an exceptional roster of dancers and musicians, the program reflects the Festival’s enduring spirit of creativity, curiosity, and fearless experimentation.

TONIGHT’S PERFORMANCE

Choreographers for this milestone evening include:

NEW 2026 Artist-In-Residence Alexei Ratmansky
Chloe Misseldine, Takumi Miyake & Ryan Tomash

Musicians: Jayla Chee, Langston Hughes II, Eliza Salem, and Joel Wenhardt

NEW Robert Battle
Calvin Royal III

Musicians: Brooklyn Rider, Alex Sopp, & Davóne Tines

NEW Collaboration between Lil Buck, Kayla Mak & Ringdown
Lil Buck & Kayla Mak

Ringdown: Danni Lee Parpan & Caroline Shaw

NEW Chun Wai Chan*
Mira Nadon & Chun Wai Chan

Musician: Tony Siqi Yun

NEW Michelle Dorrance in collaboration with Chelsea Hoy
India Bradley, Maddie Cabral, Sofía Dorantes, Michael Fleck, Anna Gorman, Chelsea Hoy, Emiko Nakagawa, Roman Mejia, Dario Natarelli & Tiler Peck

Musician: Kate Davis

NEW Robbie Fairchild
Lauren Lovette & Robbie Fairchild

Musician: Derek Wang

NEW Larry Keigwin
Lil Buck, Vladyslav Detiuchenko, Philip Duclos, Elijah Geolina, Savannah Green, Daniel Guzmán, Kayla Mak, Veronika Rakitina, Yoon Jung Seo & Indiana Woodward

Musicians: Jayla Chee, Langston Hughes II, Eliza Salem, & Joel Wenhardt

NEW Tiler Peck
India Bradley & Kayla Mak

Musicians: Brooklyn Rider

NEW Pam Tanowitz
Catherine Hurlin, Daisy Kate Jacobson, Sara Mearns, Unity Phelan & Melissa Toogood

Musicians: Kate Davis, Danni Lee Parpan, Alex Sopp, Caroline Shaw, & Derek Wang

NEW Amanda Treiber*
Dominika Afanasenkov, Preston Chamblee, Naomi Corti & Michael de la Nuez

Musician: Michael Scales

NEW Takehiro Ueyama*
Savannah Green & Jerard Palazo

Musicians: Brooklyn Rider

NEW Christopher Wheeldon
Lauren Lovette & Robbie Fairchild

Musicians: Brooklyn Rider

*First-time Festival choreographers.

Casting and repertory are subject to change.

Photo credit: Roman Mejia rehearses with Alexei Ratmansky ahead of the 2019 Vail Dance Festival. Photo by Erin Baiano.