Friday, July 17, 2009

They "Will Rock You" As Queen Nation Brings Arena Rock Tribute To Hot Summer Nights


















Close your eyes and open your mind this coming Tuesday evening and all of a sudden, Freddie Mercury is alive and well, strutting around the stage of the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, as Queen Nation rocks Bud Light Hot Summer Nights.

Queen Nation preserves the image, sound, and stage persona of vintage Queen. You will be amazed at the accuracy of their live retrospective journey through such Queen songs as “We Will Rock You”, “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “We Are The Champions”, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, “You’re My Best Friend”, “Another One Bites The Dust”, “Under Pressure” and many more.

One of the iconic and powerful groups in rock history, Queen was the king of arena rock, performing for packed stadiums around the globe for over two decades. But you can have all the great hits for free at Bud Light Hot Summer Nights.

Doors to the Amphitheater open at 5:30 p.m. and Queen Nation hits the stage at 6:30.

VVF State of the Union Video

Earlier this week we held our annual Vail Valley Foundation State of the Union at the Vilar Performing Arts Center.

The evening featured VVF President Ceil Folz sharing with the audience the VVF’s financial position, its successes and challenges in the face of the “new economy,” and her vision for the VVF’s future.

Check out the video below from the VVF State of the Union. It is rare we get to communicate everything we do at the same time. From athletics including the Teva Mountain Games, Birds of Prey and American Ski Classic, cultural events like the Vilar Performing Arts Center, Vail International Dance Festival and Free concerts, education initiatives like First Notes, Celebrate the Beat, scholarships, full-time kindergarten, and the Magic Bus to community efforts including grant giving and the Eagle River Preserve -- we are a diverse organization and thankful for our successes and challenges in 2009 and beyond.

THE VAIL VALLEY FOUNDATION:

Thursday, July 16, 2009

ShowDown Town Free Concert Tonight: Matt Clark Band














The Eagle free concert series continues tonight with Matt Clark Band at Eagle Town Park for American National Bank ShowDown Town presented by the Town of Eagle.

Those of you that have been to ShowDown Town before know the drill. This is the only free concert series the Vail Valley Foundation produces that we allow patrons to bring their own beer and pets to. Yes, that is right. You can bring your own dinner (or purchase food on site from various vendors), drinks and pets. We only request that you are responsible and only bring well mannered dogs.

Blending elements of funk, rock, blues, reggae and R&B, the Matt Clark Band continues to wow audiences with their originality. The contagious energy, great vocals and rhythmic instrumentation is sure to to be a perfect fit for ShowDown town tonight.

ShowDown town is also loaded with activities for the kiddos. Tonight look for face painting, Strider Bike demos and "Stilt Fest" -- stilt walking demos and lessons. You can also register on site or HERE to win the Quark Expeditions Ultimate Antarctic Adventure.

It's looking like tonight will be a perfect evening for a free concert.... show starts at 6:30pm.




Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Ronnie Milsap's New Album On Billboard Top 200 Charts Since March

















Ronnie Milsap’s new album “Then Sings My Soul” has been on the Billboard Top 200 charts since it’s release in March. Milsap will be performing at the Vilar Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, July 22 at 8pm. Tickets and info for that performance can be found HERE.

Milsap waited almost 40 years to deliver a gospel album making Then Sings My Soul no small affair. A double-disc set spanning 24 tracks, Then Sings My Soul is blessed with Milsap's trademark light touch, always sounding friendly and welcoming.

Preview his new album below before catching him at the VPAC...

MILSAP TALKS ABOUT NEW ALBUM:














THEN SINGS MY SOUL, RONNIE MILSAP:



Then Sings My Soul

Sofiane Sylve & Simon Ball to Perform at 2009 VIDF














Sofiane Sylve by Paul Kolnik

The Vail International Dance Festival often presents performing artists, companies and programming that can only be seen on the stages of Vail. For example, in 2008, artistic director Damian Woetzel brought together two stars from two very different ballet companies to perform together in the International Evenings of Dance; Misa Kuranaga, principal dancer from Boston Ballet and rising star of New York City Ballet, Daniel Ulbricht.

Until last summer, this partnership didn't exist, but their appearance together in the 2008 International Evenings of Dance had the audience on their feet and critics raving.

Similarly for the 2009 Festival, Sofiane Sylve, star of San Francisco Ballet will be partnered by Simon Ball, star of Houston Ballet. They have occasionally danced together before, but so infrequently that chances are this will be one of the only chances ballet lovers will have to catch these two stars together onstage. Sofiane is an ballerina power house with “extreme extensions” and has been described as a “rare paragon of womanliness in today's ballet world, both sexy and strong.” Meanwhile, critics have called Ball “dashing” and “He-man like,” his dancing compared to a “grand display of balletic fireworks.” There is no question then that Simon and Sofiane’s partnership at the 2009 Vail International Dance Festival will ignite the stage when they perform the pas de deux from William Forsythe’s high energy In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated. The “industrial” and visceral music makes for extreme, hard hitting movements and will light up the first International Evening performance on August 8 - and it will be a far cry from the languid, classical style of the ill-fated love story of Giselle which will be performed by Ball & Sylve in the second International Evening performance on August 9.

We had the rare opportunity to chat with Sofiane upon her return from a recent visit to Europe. Sofiane was born in Nice, France and got to enjoy some much deserved time with family and friends in both Paris & Holland. She said some of the most memorable things she did included visiting the Carouseel du Louvres, and the Cathedral of Chartres (located about an hour from Paris). She also enjoyed taking a Bikram Yoga class behind the Pompidou Center as well as walking through the city and shopping at all the new stores along the Palais Royal. Sofiane also mentioned the play she attended called Impressing the Czar at Palais Chaillot, a play about Religion and “all the questions we ought to ask.”

Come see Sofiane Sylve and Simon Ball performing together at the 2009 Vail International Dance Festival on Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9 at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater.

Watch Sofiane in the Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude:


CHECK OUT PHOTOS FROM 2008 INTERNATIONAL EVENINGS OF DANCE:

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Paul Rodriguez VPAC Photos

Last night Paul Rodriguez, the Original Latin King of Comedy performed in Beaver Creek at the Vilar Performing Arts Center to a packed house. Paul put on a great performance and his hysterical comedy was a hit.

Check out some photos below from the performance last night. All photos below (C) 2009 Zach Mahone.

PAUL RODRIGUEZ AT THE VPAC 7.13.09:

Employment Opportunity: Director of Education

The Vail Valley Foundation is hiring a Director of Education.

Click here for the complete job description. Interested parties should email resume and cover letter to jobs@vvf.org.