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Boulder Arts Outdoors weekly co-ed programs bring Xicano funk, ballet, juggling, samba and more to the Boulder Bandshell
On Thursdays in July and August, Boulder Arts Outdoors (BAO) will present mixed performances of live music, dance, physical theater and circus arts at the Bandshell in the Civic District of downtown Boulder. Each performance will feature five acts ranging from contemporary ballet to funk Xicano music to juggling and bluegrass. Audiences can enjoy food and drink from local vendors alongside dynamic queues of local and regional talent.
Performances will be July 22 and 29 and August 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 7-8:30 p.m. Doors and concessions open at 6 p.m. Salsa, samba and Ghanaian dance artists will lead 20-minute workshops before certain shows. The DV8 Distillery will offer an assortment of craft cocktails and other beverages, and rotating vendors such as Izote Latin Foods and Village Nosh will host tents and food carts.
Performers include longtime regional favorites such as Chris Daniels and the Kings with Freddi Gowdy, 3rd Law Dance/Theatre, Peter Davison and Ginga, alongside exciting newcomers including the Elisa Garcia Trio, Lady Romeo and VisKosity Dance Collective . Although many bands are based in Boulder, some come to Boulder from Denver and the surrounding area, such as Los Mocochetes (303 Magazine’s 2019 Best Multi-Genre Band), Edgar L. Page: Feel the Movement, and the new Dance Aspen . Other notable performers include By the Lee (front duo of bluegrass band The Railsplitters) and American Ballet Theater dancers and Boulder natives Claire Davison and Leah Baylin. In total, BAO will present 30 unique acts.
BAO was founded by Boulder native Mara Driscoll at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when she created a safe platform for live performances with two series of drive-ins in the Stazio parking lot. Ballfields. Following the huge response from audience members who tuned in to the diverse and mixed programming format, Driscoll chose to continue BAO’s mission in 2021.
CU Associate Dance President Helanius J. Wilkins, who performed in the inaugural 2020 series and will return in the 2021 series with a world premiere, believes BAO is an important addition to Boulder’s performance offerings. According to Wilkins, “BAO offers a unique opportunity to discover a wide range of Colorado artists who are recognized internationally from the region. With curated programming, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and even more to discover!”
PERFORMANCE RANGES
22nd of July
Los Mocochetes – Xicano funk band
Peter Davison – Juggling and physical theater
Bateria Alegria and Bella Diva – Samba percussion and dance
Edgar L. Page/Feel the Movement – Contemporary Dance
By the Lee – American folk duo
July 29
Lady Romeo – Soul/pop/rock group
Claire Davison – Neoclassical Ballet
Helanius J. Wilkins – Contemporary Dance
Marcela Lay and Toqui – Cuban salsa
Alfredo Muro – Latin guitar virtuoso
5 August
Dandelions – Folk rock, bluegrass
3rd Law Dance/Theatre – Contemporary Dance
VisKosity Dance Collective – Fusion of contemporary and street dance
Ball Lune – Mime, juggling, experimental singing
Los Chicos Malos – Cuban jazz/salsa/cha cha
August 12
Elisa Garcia Trio – Latin American folk music
Aspen Dance – Contemporary Ballet
Yesutor Kotoka – Ghanaian dance and percussion
Andrew Krimm and Rosemarie Mientka – Viola and contemporary dance
All Wheel Drive – Bluegrass/Bela Fleck Tribute Band
August 19
Sherefe – arabic music
Leah Baylin – Classical Ballet
Célia Perarnaud – Contemporary dance
Block 1750 – Cypher style hip hop
Ginga – Brazilian music
August 26
Boulder Symphony Percussion Trio – Chamber Percussion
Rueda de la Primera – Casino Rueda
Boulder Ballet – Neoclassical Ballet Duo
Paul Fowler with 3rd Law Dance/Theater – Voice and Contemporary Dance
Chris Daniels and the Kings with Freddi Gowdy – Blues/funk/jam band
Ticket and venue information
General admission tickets are $20 and are free for children under 12. Packages for several performances are offered at reduced prices. To purchase, visit www.boulderartsoutdoors.com.
Live streams of the performances will be available on the Boulder Arts Outdoors website.
The Glen Huntington Bandshell is located in the Boulder Civic Area on Canyon Blvd, Boulder, CO 80302. Parking is available on the street and in parking garages at 15th and Pearl, 14th and Walnut, and 11th and Spruce. The RTD Skip bus stops nearby at Broadway and Canyon Blvd.
Los Mocochetes: photo by Karson Halloway
Edgar L. Page: Photo by Calvin Berry
By the Lee: Photo by Cary Jobe
Ball/Moon: Photo and editing by Joan Hofmeyr and Blake Habermann
