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.

Choreographers for this milestone evening include 2026 Artist-In-Residence Alexei Ratmansky, Robert Battle, Michelle Dorrance, Robbie Fairchild, Larry Keigwin, Tiler Peck, Pam Tanowitz, and first-time Festival choreographers Chun Wai Chan, Chelsea Hoy, Amanda Treiber, and Takehiro Ueyama.

Artists appearing in NOW are expected to include Tiler Peck, Catherine Hurlin, Lauren Lovette, Chloe Misseldine, Mira Nadon, Unity Phelan, Melissa Toogood, Daisy Kate Jacobson, Robbie Fairchild, Roman Mejia, Calvin Royal III, Ryan Tomash, Brooks Landegger, Dario Natarelli, and Trinity Irish Dance Company.

Musicians are expected to include the acclaimed string quartet Brooklyn Rider, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and performer Caroline Shaw, Ringdown (Caroline Shaw and Danni Lee Parpan), bass-baritone Davóne Tines, pianist Tony Siqi Yun, pianist Derek Wang, flutist Alex Sopp, and vocalist-songwriter Kate Davis, with additional artists to be announced.

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