Throughout the week, an ensemble of University of Colorado Boulder graduate students in dance will lead a full schedule of school performances, studio classes, and an interactive water-themed dance workshop that will conclude with a cumulating public performance at 7 p.m. Friday, May 18 at the Massari Theatre at Trinidad State Junior College (TSJC), 600 Prospect Street.
CU Contemporary Dance Works is a graduate student tour company that provides dance outreach through performances and movement classes. The company’s goals are to build vital connections between the people of Colorado and the CU-Boulder Department of Theatre and Dance and cultivate knowledge of and involvement in the art of dance.
Leading up to the public performance on May 18, the ensemble will visit local dance studios in Pueblo and Trinidad. They will teach various dance styles from Afro-modern to creative movement and hip-hop to Pilates to dancers of all ages at Grupo Folklórico del Pueblo on May 14-15 in Pueblo. On May 16, the CU Contemporary Dance Works troupe will lead performances and movement classes for students at Fisher’s Peak Elementary in Trinidad and dance classes in ballet, modern, and improvisation for dancers at K(Inspire) Pre-Professional Dance Studio in Trinidad.
“We like to challenge the young dancers to learn something new and to think about other styles of dance beyond what they are currently performing in their local studio classes,” said Christine Rohde, CU-Boulder graduate student and CU Contemporary Dance Works coordinator.
On May 17, the Contemporary Dance Works dancers will perform “Fluid Movement: Dancing with Water in Mind” as part of the Trinidad Water Festival located in the South Gymnasium at TSJC. Classes of kindergarten, sixth, seventh, and eighth grades will participate in drumming and dancing circles inspired by ritualistic water ceremonies as a tribute to the life-supporting element. The inaugural Water Festival will address challenges and opportunities surrounding water use in Colorado, and the dance performances will incorporate artistic expression among the water-themed seminars.
All events build momentum for the CU Contemporary Dance Works’ public performance at 7 p.m. Friday, May 18 at the TSJC Massari Theatre. As part of the public performance, youth dancers from Grupo Folklórico del Pueblo and K(Inspire) Pre-Professional Dance Studio will also perform their own pieces. Approximately 15 K(Inspire) dancers aged 7-years-old through 16-years-old will perform an African-style piece choreographed by the studio owner and titled "One Tribe." Additionally, around 10 Grupo Folklórico dancers ages 12-20 will perform their own Mexican Folkoric dance. Some dancers from the local studios will join the CU Contemporary Dance Works ensemble for a select performance.
Tickets for the May 18 event are $4 for adults and $3 for seniors and children. They can be purchased at the door the evening of event or in advance at the Trinidad Community Foundation, 134 West Main Street in Suite 24. TSJC students and faculty may attend for free with a school identification card. All proceeds will benefit the Advocates Against Domestic Assault.
The performance is part of the series called CU in the Community, which is jointly sponsored by Trinidad State Junior College, Trinidad Community Foundation, Trinidad & Las Animas County Chamber of Commerce, Trinidad Times Independent, and CU-Boulder Office for University Outreach. For more information about the CU in the Community series, email outreach@colorado.edu.