Begin the Beguine

As always, the Vail International Dance Festival offers a delicious grab bag of premiere performances and choreographic styles to Colorado dance lovers, delivered with grace in the pristine fresh air of Vail’s Ford Amphitheater, 530 South Frontage Road East, or on the Vilar Center stage in Beaver Creek, 68 Avondale Lane. Here’s a taste of what’s to come in 2007.

The Pacific Northwest Ballet, which launched the fest last night, returns to the Vilar tonight at 6:30 p.m. for a collaborative Balanchine tribute with Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival musicians that includes VIDF premieres of the master choreographer’s Agon and Rubies. And then, in a complete about-face, Vail’s Bud Light Hot Summer Nights kicks in with a free presentation of the urban hip-hop history Break! at 6:30 p.m. at the Ford Amphitheater. Other standouts at the fest, which runs through August 11, include the popular International Evenings of Dance, another night with the Pacific Northwest Ballet (which features, among other things, an interpretation of nine Sinatra songs), a solo night with tap master Savion Glover, Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company’s debut performances, and a flashy ballroom showcase that’ll sweep you off your feet.

Admission prices vary; for information, tickets and festival passes, call 1-888-920-ARTS or go to www.vaildance.org.
Mon., July 30