On Jan. 3, Alya’s New Year Salon will take place at The Launchpad at 6:30pm. This event — curated by local artist Alya Howe and sponsored by Dance Initiative, Carbondale Arts, Connie Calaway, Alex Yajko and her partner, Don, as well as a myriad of “angel” donors — will include seven artists presenting pieces in […]
Dance Initiative
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Fresh dance company presents ‘Re:Collection’
On Oct. 24 and 25 at The Launchpad, locals Meagan Londy Shapiro and Emily Fifer will host the inaugural show of their newly created contemporary dance company — the name of which is currently pending — that’s fiscally sponsored by Dance Initiative. The show, “Re:Collection,” will include a combination of new movements and throwbacks to […]
Posted inNonprofits
Dance Initiative gives back with the Navajo Nation
On Sept. 4, Dance Initiative visited the Navajo Nation in partnership with the Office of the First Lady of the Navajo Nation to bring breakdancing classes to the youth of the reservation during the Navajo Nation Fair. Made possible by Johier Begay, a Dance Initiative instructor, and Executive Director Joan Dizon, the collaboration attracted a […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Joan Dizon steps up as Dance Initiative’s executive director
Earlier this summer, Dance Initiative announced the hiring of its new executive director, Joan Dizon. A second-generation Filipino immigrant, mother of three, professional dancer and real estate investor, Dizon is excited, honored and humbled to assume the position. She and her family lived in the Philippines before moving to the Valley a little over three […]
Posted inNews, Uncategorized
Local arts symposium ponders familiar challenges
On a springish morning, May 2, arts organizations from throughout the Valley convened for the first-ever State of the Arts Symposium at TACAW. The event was organized by Amy Kimberly, former executive director of Carbondale Arts, as part of her Change Leader project with Colorado Creative Industries. Kimberly told The Sopris Sun she hopes the […]
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‘Baye & Asa’ refine dance in the RFV
Since childhood, growing up in New York City, Amadi “Baye” Washington and Sam “Asa” Pratt have danced together. As adults, they formed a dance company, “Baye & Asa,” to continue exploring the edges of possibility in movement. This month, May 12-20, they will be in residency with Dance Initiative, developing choreography and teaching classes. The […]
Posted inLetters, Uncategorized
Letters – March 24, 2022
Climate talk The expansion of “climate” discussions from reducing greenhouse gas emissions to “resilience” and “mitigation” and “adaptation” and “justice” and “equity” and other issues is healthy but can distract from greenhouse gasses. Emissions reductions from us and our energy providers are required as soon as possible to maintain a healthy planet now, and for […]
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New York dance group inspires local collaboration
As part of its residency program, Dance Initiative will host New York based performance company NVA & Guests from Jan. 29 to Feb. 7. The residency will culminate with a performance at The Arts Campus at Willits (TACAW) on Feb. 5. This collaboration is one of the first to come from a new and budding […]
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Uniting the nation with dance
What does it mean to belong — to a community, to a place, to our own bodies? Artist Helanius J. Wilkins and collaborator A. Ryder Turner are embarking on a massive project, spanning all 50 states and Washington, D.C., to hold that question like a mirror on the disparate states of America. It’s called “The […]
Posted inNews, Uncategorized
Kizuna Dance residency becomes a reality
Last week, Carbondale’s Dance Initiative hosted Kizuna Dance through their artist-in-residence program. Collaboration between Carbondale Arts and Dance Initiative supported this residency and the performance of “Fallen Words”, which went swimmingly. Dance Initiative is a collaborative organization that provides educational opportunities, artist residency programs, and community workshops in the Roaring Fork Valley. Carbondale Arts provides […]