The Vail International Dance Festival presents UpClose

The UpClose series of performances uses a lecture demonstration format mixed with fully staged performance to bring the audience past the proscenium, educating as well as entertaining. The inspiration for these evenings is the format that Leonard Bernstein used in select performances as music director of the NY Philharmonic, which were in essence open rehearsals. On these unique evenings, the audience would hear the great masetro fine-tune the repertoire, and listen to his explanations and opinions thus bringing the music alive in new ways for the audience.
 
This year, we are presenting two UpClose evenings. The first is an examination of the work of Jerome Robbins, hosted by VIDF director Damian Woetzel and Pacific Northwest Ballet director Peter Boal. Using the dancers of PNB to show the various ballets, Woetzel and Boal will describe their experiences working with Mr. Robbins at NYCB on several of his great masterpieces, and share with those present insights into the unique genius of this greatest of American choreographers.

The second UpClose is a look at new works being created for Christopher Wheeldon's Morphoses. Get UpClose with Christopher Wheeldon and Morphoses for a behind-the-scenes look at new works choreographed in Vail and a retrospective of the evolution of the first year of his company’s existence. Featured choreographers at this one-time-only UpClose event will include Adam Hougland, Pontus Lidberg and Edwaard Liang, who will present works-in-progress created during the Morphoses Vail residency.

Read bios for Christopher Wheeldon and the evening's other guest choreographers.

It is our hope that with evenings such as these, we will help provide the footholds necessary to ensure that great art is fully appreciated.

Pictured here: Christopher Wheeldon and pianist Cameron Grant at 2007's UpClose evening.
Pictured above: Christopher Wheeldon and Damian Woetzel.