In Progress is TACAW’s new series offering unique opportunities to witness the creative process behind the Roaring Fork Valley’s finest creative organizations.
Join us with DanceAspen as they pull back the curtain (literally and figuratively) on contemporary choreography and allow you to observe how their upcoming performance at the historic Wheeler Opera House is taking shape through rehearsals.
On November 14th, join Shane Urton in his process as he creates new work set to DanceAspen’s first-ever commissioned score by composer Camiel Jansen, transforming the rhythms of corporate life into movement of surprising lyricism.
On January 9th, 2025 Princess Grace Award–winner Houston Thomas will rehearse his reinvention of the iconic Swan Lake pas de deux, fusing its timeless music with visceral, modern intensity.
On January 29th, rising choreographic voice Emilie Leriche will rehearse her piece, which draws from poetry, crafting dances as if they were paragraphs and chapters—language made physical.
This is a fantastic opportunity to experience firsthand the dedication, artistry, and collaborative spirit that goes into bringing dance to the stage. These open rehearsals are a prelude to Dance Aspen’s full production, Re:imagine, which will be presented at the Wheeler.
Re:imagine, an evening of world premieres by American choreographers whose careers abroad in Europe have shaped bold new visions for contemporary ballet.
About DanceAspen
In 2021, in response to the dissolution of the Roaring Fork Valley’s professional dance company, a determined group of dancers led by Laurel Winton established a bold, new contemporary company. Their grassroots effort quickly garnered local support, culminating in a sold-out debut at the Wheeler Opera House. Rooted in the principles of collaboration, community, and artistic excellence, their company has developed a significant reputation, showcasing internationally renowned choreographers and creating 30+ world premieres. DanceAspen has also graced prominent stages at the Vail Dance Festival and Aspen Music Festival, demonstrating their dedication to producing new contemporary dance while enhancing the cultural vibrancy of the Aspen area.
Shane Urton
Originally from North Carolina, USA, Shane began his dance training at the age of 15 at Bonita’s School of Ballet. A year later Shane was accepted to the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (High school) where he attended until graduating in 2009. Though focusing on classical Ballet, Shane also trained in contemporary dance techniques. Teachers such as Ethan Stiefel, Christine Spizzo, Nigel Burly, Brenda Daniels, Diane Markham among others were crucial in his dance education. Shane joined the Joffrey Ballet Chicago in 2009 through the opening of their trainee program just after graduating. Though a trainee that first year, Shane danced in the full 2009-10 Joffrey season which helped him get contracted as a member of the company in 2010. 2010-2014 Shane danced many roles in works by G. Balanchine, Jerome Robins, Jiri Kylian, Alexander Ekman, and Lar Lubovitch. Shane then left to join the Royal New Zealand Ballet in 2014 where he danced featured roles in works by W. Forsythe, J. Kylian, A. Ekman, Liam Scarlett, Niel Ieremia, Larry Keigwin, and Andonis Foniadakis. Shane joined the Norwegian National Ballet in 2016. He quickly received opportunities to dance roles in works again by J. Kylian, A. Ekman, Liam Scarlett, Ohad Naharin, Alan Øyen, Jo Strømgren, Ina Christel Johannesson, and Garrett Smith.
Shane is now currently a demi-soloist in Opera Ballet Vlaanderen in Belgium. He has been fortunate to broaden his repertoire again in works by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoiu, Crystal Pite, and Daniel Proeitto.
Huston Thomas
Houston Thomas is a choreographer and former soloist with the Dresden Semperoper Ballett.Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Houston embarked on his dance journey through the Joffrey Ballet Outreach Program under the tutelage of Pierre Locket. His passion for dance led him to further his education at the Joffrey Ballet Academy of Dance upon its inception in 2008, concurrently honing his skills at the Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts) under Lisa Johnson-Willingham. In the summer of 2011, Houston attended the School of American Ballet Summer Course, later inviting him to join as a full-time student for the subsequent winter term. After graduating from SAB in 2013, Houston found his artistic home with the Dresden Semperoper Ballett, rising to second soloist by 2018. His repertoire boasts pivotal roles in acclaimed works by George Balanchine, Sir Frederick Ashton, William Forsythe, and David Dawson, among others. His performance in Justin Peck’s “Heatscape” earned him a “Best Male Performance” nomination at the 2018 Dance Europe Critic Choice Awards.After a decade of performing with the Semperoper Ballett, culminated in Houston’s final performance during the 22/23 Season, marking the transition to focus exclusively on his choreographic career.Houston’s choreographic journey came to the fore in 2018 with his debut piece, “Moonlit Variants,” presented at the Semperoper Ballett’s Young Choreographers event. Subsequently, he was commissioned to collaborate on “Alice—Eine Reise ins Wunderland” for the Semper Zwei. Venturing into the digital realm, Houston collaborated with NYCB dancers Mimi Staker and Sebastian Villarini-Velez to create the film “An Afternoon of Angelic Voices,” entirely conducted over Zoom for the New York Choreographic Institute. Houston was later invited to the 2021 and 2023 Fall Sessions, creating his works “The Return Studies” and “001.3,” featuring dancers from the New York City Ballet and the School of American Ballet.In July 2022, Houston premiered “Follow the White Rabbit” at the Young Emergent Choreographers Contest in Biarritz, France, receiving a commission to create “SKYWATCHER” for the Opéra National de Bordeaux.Since then, Houston has created new works for schools and companies, including The Washington Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, The Juilliard School, ABT Studio Company, Ailey ll, BalletCollective, Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet, Ballet San Antonio, The School of American Ballet, Point Park University, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, Palucca University of Dance Dresden and the Hamptons Dance Project. His works have been performed by Ballet 22 and the Columbia Repertory Ballet. In addition to his creative work, Houston has taught at Steps on Broadway, The Juilliard School, Ailey 2, and The International City School of Ballet. In recognition of his artistic achievements and emerging choreographic impact, Houston was named the recipient of the 2025 Princess Grace Award.
Emilele Lerichie
Emilie Leriche is a freelance performer and creator based in Göteborg, Sweden. She has created work on Nederlands Dans Theater II, Whim W’Him in Seattle, the tanzensemble of Theater St. Gallen, Ballett Hagen, and Gibney Company. Her most recent work Terrific, and Everywhere, a new creation for Ballet Edmonton, premiered in February of 2025. From 2017-2021 she danced with GöteborgsOperans Danskompani under the artistic direction of Katrín Hall. Prior to her move to Sweden, Leriche danced four seasons with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, where in 2015 she was awarded a Princess Grace Foundation (USA) fellowship in dance. As an independent artist she has been a part of several creative and performance teams, including Ella Rothschild’s Milk Teeth, Kor’Sia’s Mont Ventoux, Imre & Marne Van Opstal’s Voodoo Waltz, Antonin Rioche’s we are doing great, and Martin Harriague’s Crocodile. Most recently she has been a guest in Jonathan Fredrickson’s work for Ballett Basel, I Will, Love. In 2021 her project, On Mending, a collaboration with Shawn Fitzgerald Ahern, was selected for Orsolina 28’s “Call for Creation” fellowship where the work was originally developed for film. In 2022, with the support of a “Work-in-Progress” grant from the Princess Grace Foundation, On Mending was further developed and performed as a live production at Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City. In 2023, Leriche and Ahern were commissioned by BAC to direct their next film, One & One Other; which premiered on BAC’s digital platform in April of 2023.
You may also like the following events from TACAW:
Also check out other
Arts events in Basalt,
Entertainment events in Basalt,
Dance events in Basalt.
|
