- Damian Woetzel – photo by Erin Baiano
The Vail International Dance Festival is upon us, kicking off two weeks of acclaimed dance, all under a blanket of stars in the Vail Valley. I wanted to get inside the mind of Damian Woetzel, Artistic Director of the program, who has had an incredible career in the dance world, first as a principle with the New York City Ballet, then later as an internationally touring artist and choreographer.
In 2009, he was appointed to President Obama’s Committee on Arts and Humanities, and is a juror for the Princess Grace Committee. Colorado is certainly lucky to have Woetzel partaking in its artistic processes, giving dance and art lovers alike yet another reason to attend this year’s festival.
Tell me about some of your favorite Colorado things outside of the dance world. What do you
enjoy most about Vail?
Walking or biking through town, taking the gondola up from Lionshead, enjoying the great restaurants. I love the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, it’s like no other theater in the world. Dances look so different there as the sun sets; one of my favorite memories is Balanchine’s Serenade being performed as the moon rose in the sky behind the stage- amazing!
You’ve been with VIDF since 2006. What are some of the changes you’re most proud of incorporating or that you think audience members should be more aware of/take advantage of?
The Celebrate the Beat dance and music education program is something I am incredibly happy to have brought to Vail. That first summer my wife Heather Watts proposed the idea, and Ceil Folz, the President of the Vail Valley Foundation said “yes” and made it happen, and now it has been in the local schools for almost 6 years! It’s a life changing program that teaches kids how to succeed, all through the arts.
I am also very proud of the UpClose programs held at the Vilar Performing Arts Center, and the Dance for $20.12 program this year is the latest installment of the popular priced series we’ve been doing since 2008.
Tell me more about the NOW evening.
NOW is all about what the title says, NOW! Choreographers making wonderful work today, and new works that haven’t yet been seen in Vail—it’s very important to me that Vail be a place where new work is made and appreciated.
How do you go about selecting artists for the festival? What brings you inspiration?
The truth is I love great dancing and love to share it. So what is great dancing? Well, it’s dancing that thrills me, moves me, makes me think, makes me want to cry, that makes me want to dance myself.
Something awesome and off beat you’d like to share about yourself, dance related or not.
I intend to play a lot of tennis this festival, early in the morning or whenever I can, it’s my new exercise now that I don’t perform anymore!
The Vail International Dance Festival gets underway this Sunday evening, with a performance by New York City Ballet’s Moves at 7:30 pm. Tickets range from $20-$80. The day before the festival opens, Lionshead will join the VIDF in celebrating National Dance Day (Saturday, July 27) by inviting both dancers and non-dancers alike to groove to a hip hop number in conjunction with The Dizzy Feet Foundation, which serves underprivileged youth.
All of the performances for the Vail International Dance Festival will be held in the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheatre, with several off stage events to compliment these events, including Dancing in the Streets, Village Vignets, and more.
So grab a blanket, some wine and cheese, and head to Vail for world class dance in the heart of the Rockies; Sunday, July 28 – Saturday, August 11.