Aspen Dance Connection Brings Emergence Show to Basalt TACAW

What happens when you trade the grandeur of the Wheeler Opera House for the intimate, community-focused space of TACAW?

The answer lies in seven distinct dances performed by fifteen professional freelance dancers, all under one roof on July 17. That’s the core of Aspen Dance Connection’s latest show, “Emergence.” It is not just another performance series. It is a concentrated showcase of local talent, featuring works by five established Colorado choreographers.

The event kicks off at 7:30 p.m. inside TACAW, located in Basalt. For neighbors who have followed the organization’s history, this shift represents a change in scale but not in ambition. ADC has presented 34 years of Colorado Choreographer Showcases at the larger Wheeler Opera House before moving to this more accessible venue. Fran Page, who has served as ADC director since 1986, notes that the organization is known for its outreach programs extending from Aspen to Parachute. These efforts have reached more than 6,450 people, a number that includes school visits, library appearances, and outdoor flash mobs.

“There’s so much talent in Colorado; they’re exceptional,” Page said, standing among the dancers who will perform.

The choreographers behind “Emergence” are not outsiders looking in. They live and work here. Carbondale resident Alexandra Jerkunica joins Amy Anderson of Engage Movement Arts in Denver, Maureen Breeze of Maureen Breeze Dance Theater, and Grand Junction-based Rebecca Fleishman and Liz Vrettos. These artists have generated works specifically for the 18 dancers performing at TACAW. Many of these performers also dance professionally with Colorado Ballet, Ballet Ariel, and Wonderbound in Denver, as well as with choreographers in New York City.

The program begins with Vrettos’ “Emanate,” an uplifting piece described by Page as light, spiritual, and fluid, yet ending with energy. Then comes “Shoes,” a duet by Gregory Gonzales and Sharon Wehner. Wehner, a former prima ballerina at Colorado Ballet for 22 years, performs alongside Gonzales, who is Anderson’s husband and a visiting dancer in peak shape. The piece depicts a conflict around a kitchen table, choreographed by Anderson, blending strong ballet technique with modern dance.

Breeze contributes two pieces to the evening. “Shifting Grounds” portrays a divisive modern society, with five dancers moving around a long table. It carries a parallel drama between the earth and our culture, complete with a light sense of humor. Her second piece, “Remnants of You,” reflects on past relationships and features a playful duet using a large metal door as a unique trapeze.

This specific configuration of dancers and choreographers performs “Emergence” only once, making the TACAW show a unique event. However, Page does take dancers to appear in flash mobs at the Wednesday music series at River Park in Basalt, with the next scheduled for August 12 at 7 p.m.

Before the main event, the dancers offer free sneak peeks of “Emergence” at local libraries. They appear at the Parachute, New Castle, and Glenwood Springs libraries on July 15. On July 16, from 10 to 11 a.m., they perform at the Carbondale library, where Breeze leads children in combining gestures, rhythms, and storytelling.

It started in 1978 when eight local choreographers launched ADC to highlight their original works. Now, it stands as proof of that founding vision, bringing high-level art down to the community level. The lights dim at TACAW. The music starts. And the dancers emerge.