DanceAspen expands, welcomes three new dancers for winter season
Courtesy photo
Since its inception, DanceAspen has created a big buzz and faithful following.
Born out of the shuttering of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet during the COVID-19 pandemic, which left Laurel Winton and fellow dancers Kaya Wolsey, Anthony Tiedeman, Matthew Gilmore, and Katherine Bolanos (now retired) out of work, the young troupe has rapidly built a reputation and following through hard work and sheer will.
Faced with unemployment and not wanting to leave the lives they had built in the Roaring Fork Valley, Winton, who now serves as executive director, decided to found a brand new organization alongside her fellow dancers. And so, the new company was founded in 2021.
“It’s been an incredible journey,” Winton said. “We’ve built something great out of a tragedy.”
A great deal of its success lies in its collaborative nature, where the artists are allowed and encouraged to stretch their creativity into other avenues like choreography, filmmaking, and even marketing. And while Winton founded the organization, no head creative director is dictating a strict agenda, allowing the artists more freedom to explore.
That spirit of creative freedom, experimentation, and respect has made it one of the fastest-growing dance companies in the country that continues to attract top-rate talent.
This winter, three new artists — Michaella Ho, Paulio Sóvári, and Nicole Bui — will join DanceAspen for the 2024/25 season in advance of the company’s Feb. 15-16 performance, “Embers Glow,” at the Wheeler Opera House.
“We’re thrilled to welcome these three incredible artists to DanceAspen, further solidifying our mission to be a home for both emerging talent and seasoned professionals,” Winton said. “With three of our seven company members being Juilliard graduates, it speaks to the caliber of artistry and ambition we attract. DanceAspen is proud to be a hub for that creativity, becoming a true beacon in the dance world.”
Bui, a San Diego native, received her training from Danceology’s Academy of Classical Ballet with Elena Baltovick and California Professional Ballet Program with Maxim Tchnerychev. After a traineeship with Tulsa Ballet and performing works by Ma Cong, Jera Wolfe, Marcello Angelini, and Alejandro Cerrudo, she danced with Richmond Ballet, Wonderbound, Zikr Dance, The Rosin Box Project, and Ballare Carmel.
As an artist, she has had the opportunity to perform original repertoire and new creations by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Jennifer Archibald, Merce Cunningham, Cherice Barton, Carly Topazio, Lillian Barbeito, and Kelly Ashton Todd, among others. She has also spent summers and residencies with Carmel Dance Festival, Jacob’s Pillow, Ballet Jazz Montreal, NW Dance Project MOVE (Launch), Joffrey Ballet, and Bolshoi Ballet. This winter she will perform with DanceAspen.
“When auditioning for a dance company, I’m not only looking for an artistic home that celebrates versatility and diversity but also a community that truly appreciates art and a lifestyle connected to nature. DanceAspen, nestled in the Roaring Fork Valley, checked all my boxes,” Bui said. “So far, with this group, I can already sense that they will become family, and getting to work with such talent and collaboration each day has been both inspiring and fulfilling. “
Sóvári, a fellow newcomer, was born in Romania and has spent the past 10 years leaving a significant imprint as a photographer, dancer, and teacher. His artistic journey began at Interlochen Arts Academy and onto the esteemed Juilliard School. This strong foundation laid the groundwork for Sóvári, who went on to grace international stages and lend his dance expertise to renowned companies such as the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Staatsballett Berlin under the direction of Nacho Duato, and the Oper Graz in Austria.
Sóvári said he is thrilled to find himself back in the Roaring Fork Valley.
“After dancing abroad in Germany and Austria for the past eight years, I find myself back in these beautiful mountains and out of retirement to join the wonderful vision of DanceAspen,” Sóvári said. “It is an honor to be back, working with such inspirational colleagues and artists, and giving the valley community the quality dance performances that are so very supported and desired.”
Ho is from Toronto, Canada, and began her training with Academy of Ballet and Jazz, School of Canadian Ballet Theatre under the direction of Nadia Veselova-Tencer. She continued her training with Erin Forrest at Forrest Academy of Ballet NY. She attended summer programs with Nederlands Dans Theatre, Arts Umbrella, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Ellison Ballet. At the Juilliard School, she performed works by Emilie Leriche, Omar Roman De Jesus, Medhi Walerski, Donald McKayle, Sonya Tayeh, and Jamar Roberts, among others.
Ho has recently performed in Sharon Eyal and Gai Beher’s production of R.O.S.E. at the Park Avenue Armory alongside L-E-V. She is the founder of Contemporary Dance Lab, an educational contemporary dance initiative for pre-professional dancers. Michaella is excited to join DanceAspen for their Winter 24/25 season.
“I was drawn to Dance Aspen’s entrepreneurial roots. I am deeply inspired by the fact that Dance Aspen was founded by a group of dancers seeking a platform to express their artistic voices,” Ho said. “Joining this group of close-knit dancers, I’ve found comfort in my peers and opportunity in my artistic growth. Being a recent graduate of Juilliard, I am thankful for the opportunity to continue exploring my artistry with a supportive and passionate community.”
Sarah Girgis is the Arts and Entertainment Editor for The Aspen Times. She can be reached at 970-429-9151 or sgirgis@aspentimes.com.
