DanceAspen Launches Free Monthly Community Classes at Red Brick Center

The Red Brick Center for the Arts sits on Hallam Street, a place where the usual hum of Aspen’s tourist-heavy corridors feels just a bit quieter, a bit more grounded. It’s a community hub that doesn’t scream for attention; it just exists, waiting for people to fill its rooms with something other than silence.

This Saturday, that silence breaks.

DanceAspen is launching its first-ever free monthly community dance class series, turning the studio into a neighborhood gathering spot. It’s not a ticketed gala. It’s not a private lesson for the wealthy elite. It’s open to anyone 14 and older, regardless of skill level, and it costs exactly zero dollars.

“We’re inviting the community to learn from professional dancers, which is really special,” says Laurel Winton, the founder and artistic director. “It’s a unique offer from DanceAspen, as the only local dance company that exists here.”

The logistics are simple, which is often the hardest part of getting people to show up. The classes run from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays, starting May 30 and continuing through September 5. The location is specific: 110 E. Hallam St. The attire? Yoga pants. Or whatever makes you feel comfortable moving.

Winton sees this as a bridge between the professional world of dance and the public that supports it. Her company artists rehearse Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in their own dedicated studios. They know their craft inside and out. Now, they’re taking that expertise out of the ivory tower and into the arts center.

“We thought it would be refreshing for us to bring our training and our expertise straight to the neighborhood at the Red Brick Center for the Arts,” Winton says.

Tyler Kerbel, who is teaching jazz on the inaugural May 30 session, isn’t just counting beats. He’s looking for connection.

“I’m very excited for this open class series,” Kerbel says. “What excites me about teaching is building community and connections through dance.”

And that matters because dance, at its core, is a physical language. It’s about moving your body in a space shared with others. It’s about showing up, even if you haven’t danced in decades. It’s about confidence.

The classes cover ballet, jazz, and musical theater. Jonah Delgo leads ballet on June 13. Kerbel handles jazz in May. The goal isn’t to create the next Broadway star. It’s to have fun. It’s to work on technique, sure, but mostly it’s to move together in the same room.

This initiative is tied to a larger mission. Winton notes that the series is a direct result of public support. “It’s a reminder of our mission and we can only provide it because people support us,” she says. “We’re doing the best we can to share the art and the love of dance.”

The timing is strategic, too. This series kicks off just before the Aspen Public Art’s Mall Fest 50 Art Parade. DanceAspen will be performing a piece in that parade, continuing a relationship that started when they collaborated on a flash mob under the Red Brick’s umbrella last August. It’s a cycle of engagement: classes build community, performances showcase it, and the community supports the company.

Space is limited, so folks need to move fast. Sign-ups are happening now at DanceAspen.punchpass.com/classes.

Imagine it in late September. The air is crisp, the leaves are turning. You’re in a studio on Hallam Street, wearing your best yoga fit, surrounded by neighbors you might just recognize from the grocery store or the high school football game. You’re not watching a performance. You’re part of it. That’s the scene. That’s the offer.