VVAD Brings 'Wizard of Oz' Ballet to Beaver Creek's Vilar Center

The Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek is usually a place for serious opera and symphonies, but this weekend it’s getting a makeover. The air will smell like hairspray and floor wax, and the stage will be filled with kids in glittering costumes. It’s a far cry from the quiet luxury of the resort, but it’s exactly where the Vail Valley Academy of Dance (VVAD) wants it to be.

Ashley Calligan, the academy’s owner and artistic director, is leading the charge on a full-length “Wizard of Oz” ballet. It’s a big production. Calligan says it’s been about a year in the making, largely because the company skipped a full-length ballet last year while the Vilar Center underwent renovations. They needed to make up for lost time.

Let’s look at the logistics. We’re talking about 100 dancers for the main ballet. The age range is wide — eight years old to high school seniors. That’s a lot of moving parts to coordinate. Calligan notes that they start choreography in January, teaching the ballet in weekly classes. They don’t put it all together until the week of the performance. It’s a rush job, but one that requires serious dedication from both dancers and teachers.

The human element is where the story gets real. For seniors like Lily Danzoll, this is a sentimental journey. She recalls her first ballet being “Wizard of Oz” and now finds herself on the same stage years later. “It’s bittersweet to think about this being my last performance here, but it feels like my heart is full,” Danzoll said.

Then there’s Willow Uzdavinis. She broke her foot halfway through the season. Most people would sit out. Uzdavinis is grateful just to be able to perform. “It’s definitely a sad feeling but right now I’m grateful I get to end it on a good note,” she said. That’s the reality of dance. You get hurt, you heal, you hope you can still hit your marks.

But the ballet isn’t the only thing happening. The academy is also hosting a recital called “Over the Rainbow.” This isn’t just ballet. It’s jazz, contemporary, tap, musical theatre, and hip-hop. Dancers aged 3 to 18 are involved. Each show features between 100 and 150 dancers.

To keep things manageable for families, they’re doing three performances. Each one runs between one and a half hours. Some of the older dancers are in all five performances, while the youngest might only be in one. It’s a logistical puzzle designed to fit the crowd into the theater without exhausting the parents or the kids.

The VVAD is also showcasing its elite companies, including the Altitude Dance Company. These aren’t just hobbyists. These are serious dancers. But the main draw remains the community aspect. It’s a way for the academy to give back to the valley that supports it.

For context, this isn’t just a recital. It’s a statement of resilience. After a year of renovations and a skipped season, the academy is back with a bang. It’s a reminder that even in a high-end resort town, the arts are rooted in hard work and local community.

The bottom line? You can expect a lot of kids, a lot of costumes, and a lot of pride. It’s not free, but it’s not expensive either. It’s a weekend of local talent that keeps the Vilar Center busy and the community engaged. If you’re in Beaver Creek this weekend, you’ll see it. If you’re not, you’re missing out on the heart of the valley’s cultural life.