Celebrate the Beat

Tracy Straus, Artistic Director

Celebrate The Beat (CTB) teaches inspirational music and dance classes which help children discover their potential by motivating them to believe in themselves, value artistic expression and develop a personal standard of excellence. During school hours, our Teaching Artists serve an entire grade or an entire school by creating a music and dance extravaganza inspired by that year’s educational theme. The teachers are professional dancers, choreographers, musicians and composers, all of whom believe that the arts should be an integral part of every child's education.

CTB is the Colorado associate of National Dance Institute (NDI) and member of ANDI . Jacques d’Amboise created the world-renown NDI in 1976. The program’s phenomenal success has led to national recognition, including the 1995 Kennedy Center Honors, the MacArthur Genius Award, and the Academy Award-winning film, “He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin.” Over the years, the thirty year-old program has refined a meticulous teaching methodology rooted in the belief that art can transform children’s lives. More than simply teaching dance, NDI motivates children to believe in themselves, to value artistic expression, and to develop a personal standard of excellence.

CTB elicits of the children a standard of excellence that they use as a benchmark in future endeavors. For many children it is a life-changing event; for all, it is an amazing experience they will never forget. For more information on CTB or NDI, please visit click here.

Celebrate the Beat in Vail!

Celebrate the Beat returns to the Vail Valley after its incredibly succesful first season during last year's Vail International Dance Festival. The program will take shape in two forms: a spring in-school residency, as well as a one-week summer workshop. Please see details below, and contact Molly Bethel at 970.949.1999 for more information.

Spring Residency
Avon Elementary School, April 12 - May 2
This spring, 2nd, 3rd and 5th graders enrolled in the Avon Elementary School will enjoy inspirational and joyful daily dance classes, accompanied by a fabulous musician.The residency will conclude with a performance at the Vilar Performing Arts Center on May 2nd. The theme of the program is "100 Years of American Music and Dance," and will enrich the participants' understanding of the performing arts in our country.

Summer Program
Avon Elementary School, August 4-8
This week-long workshop is open to children ages 9-12. Classes will take place Monday through Friday from 9:30-12:30 at the Avon Elementary School, concluding with a public performance outside of the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater on Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. The theme of the program is "Pop Hop," inspired by the fabulous pop art of Keith Haring. In addition to dance and music, the children will design their own art throughout the week, which will be on display as the backdrop at their Saturday public performance. For more information, or to register for the workshop, please contact Molly Bethel at  mbethel@vvf.org or 970.949.1999.

Watch CTB in the Vail Valley on YouTube!: