DanceAspen Gala Celebrates Five Years Reaching 3,150 Locals

Laurel Winton wants you to remember Studio 54. Not the faded postcards, but the gold-and-glamour shine of the 1970s. That is the specific vision for DanceAspen’s fifth-anniversary gala at Hotel Jerome.

The event transforms the venue into a space where limitations disappear. Creativity flourishes. Every night feels like a celebration.

Winton, DanceAspen’s executive director, sees this as more than a party. It is a reminder of what the organization contributes to the community year-round. The goal is an evening that mirrors the vibrant energy of the dance company’s growth from an ambitious idea into a regional staple.

The short version: The gala supports dancers and community outreach programs. But the real story is in the numbers.

From March 2025 through April 2026, DanceAspen brought education and community engagement to more than 3,150 people. That includes teachers, senior citizens, and participants with special needs across Colorado and Wyoming.

The breakdown is specific. 1,503 students participated in DanceStart. This is the company’s free, in-school movement education program. Another 1,499 people took part in masterclasses, demonstrations, free performances, and other outreach events.

These are not abstract metrics. These are neighbors in the classroom. These are seniors attending local shows.

DanceAspen has also commissioned and premiered new works by company artists and nationally renowned choreographers. Some are Princess Grace Award recipients. The company presented mainstage performances at the Wheeler Opera House, including Shifting Forms and re:imagine. They toured to TACAW, the Vail Dance Festival, Green Box Arts, Fort Collins, Crested Butte, Rifle, and Gillette, Wyoming.

The latest offering is Behind the Curtain. Launched in partnership with the Wheeler Opera House, it gives local students from kindergarten through 12th grade a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process. Students ask questions. They explore movements themselves. They gain a deeper understanding of dance’s transformative power.

So far, 200 students have participated in Behind the Curtain.

Winton notes that research shows exposure to the arts enhances cognitive development, improves social-emotional well-being, and inspires lifelong creativity. DanceAspen is betting on that data. They are strengthening their role as a cultural leader while making world-class contemporary dance more accessible.

Allison Walsh, whose comments appear in the reporting, emphasizes strategic community partnerships. She points to new commissions and regional touring as evidence of this shift.

The gala features cocktails, exceptional dining, live performances, and an open dance floor with DJ Kebi spinning tunes. It is flashy. It is expensive-looking. But the money flows back into programs that reach thousands of locals.

Make no mistake: This is not just about the dress code at Hotel Jerome. It is about sustaining a workforce of dancers and keeping arts education free for students who need it.

The question is whether the glamour lasts beyond one night. The 3,150 participants suggest the foundation is solid. The 200 students in Behind the Curtain are the next generation of supporters.

DanceAspen has spent five years building this bridge between high art and the Western Slope community. The gala is just the latest plank on that bridge.