UW Presents Vertical Dance at Vedauwoo Aug. 25

The University of Wyoming Department of Theatre and Dance will present “Dancing between Earth and Sky: Vertical Dance at Vedauwoo” Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 25 and 26.

Three performances will be presented at the Vedauwoo Recreation Area, 16 miles east of Laramie, off Interstate 80. The Aug. 25 performances will be at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and the Aug. 26 performance will start at 11 a.m.

Seating is limited by the terrain. General admission tickets -- for people, as well as dogs -- are $8 in advance. They can be purchased by calling (307) 766-6666; going online at www.uwyo.edu/finearts; or by visiting the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts box office, Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Only limited tickets will be available for sale on-site for $10. Patrons are encouraged to buy tickets in advance.

Since 1998, “Vertical Dance at Vedauwoo” has been an end-of-summer favorite with local audiences. The natural rock formations at Vedauwoo offer a spectacular setting for the dance.

Created and co-directed by Margaret Wilson, a UW professor of dance, and Neil Humphrey, a UW professor of geology, the site-specific vertical dance performances feature dancers performing on rocks both near and far away from the audience.

“We are looking forward to performing at Vedauwoo again,” Wilson says. “Our last performance was in 2013. We have an excellent group of students and guests with whom we are excited to be performing.”

UW Department of Theatre and Dance performers will be joined by guest artists Kate Lawrence and Simon Edwards, from Vertical Dance Kate Lawrence in Wales; and Maliina Jensen, a UW alumna who creates vertical dance in Nuuk, Greenland.

“We are inspired by the range of natural elements that exist in the space between earth and sky, including wind, birds, clouds, rustling leaves, sound and light,” Wilson says.

Live music will be provided by UW musical theater faculty member Sean Stone, keyboards/piano; and Lights Along the Shore members Lisa Rickard, keyboards/piano; Rod Garnett, flute; and Jesse Lee, percussion. The musical score will feature original compositions by Stone and Rickard, as well as adaptations of poetry and musical forms from all around the world.

“We are excited to be working with members of Lights Along the Shore and Sean Stone again,” Wilson says. “It is a pleasure to collaborate with these artists in the development of new ideas for music and dance pieces.”

UW’s vertical dance performances are produced in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service.

For more information, call Kathy Kirkaldie, UW Fine Arts coordinator, at (307) 766-2160 or email kirisk@uwyo.edu.

What to Know Before You Go

Getting to the “Vertical Dance at Vedauwoo” performances will take additional time. Patrons should plan to arrive at least an hour before the performance they are scheduled to see. Patrons are encouraged to carpool to the venue when possible, as parking is limited.

The performances will take place in the Box Canyon area of Vedauwoo. Buses on-site will transport patrons from designated parking areas to a drop-off point in the Box Canyon parking lot, from which there is a 10-minute walk up a gravel path to the performance area. The last bus from the parking area will depart 15 minutes before each performance.

Vedauwoo is a natural recreation area with challenging terrain. The trail up to the performance area is a gradual incline, with loose rocks and low tree limbs along the way. Ushers will be stationed along the trail to help patrons locate the performance venue and seating area. Minimal ADA accommodations are available. Patrons should call the Performing Arts box office at (307) 766-6666 as soon as possible for further information.

The seating area is first-come, first-served, with seating mainly on the ground. Sunscreen, water and a blanket to sit on are recommended. The performance area has little to no shade, and the weather at the 8,600-foot elevation can range from bright sun and hot temperatures to occasional showers. Patrons are advised to plan accordingly.

Many people make a day of the event, using the picnic and hiking areas both before and after the performances.