VYBC DANCERS' DISH NEWSLETTER- July 24,2025

Hello Dancers & Parents, I hope this newsletter finds you all well and having an amazing summer! There are MANY updates below, so please be sure to read everything so you don't miss out! I hope to see many of you at the upcoming Vail Dance Festival events! I know we have a few current and alumni dancers volunteering as Ambassadors and know they will represent VYBC/VFOD well!

We look forward to seeing everyone (dancers and parents) on Thursday, July 31 at our first outing at the FREE Dancing in the Park event at the Avon Pavilion. Please meet at 5pm the north corner of the stage and we will find a spot together to sit, watch the performance and picnic.

To Do's

Dancers have a NEW opportunity to attend the Watching Dance with Heather Watts on July 30 at 11am for FREE. Please email Meggen by Monday if you would like a ticket.

NEW Uniform Lulu Jackets for VYBC this year! See below details on ordering/payment!!

Please be sure that Sunday, August 24 is on your calendar for the Welcome Tea from 12:30pm - 4pm. Attendance by dancers and one parent (we would love to see dads there too) is mandatory. Watch for an official invite to RSVP and sign-up for drinks/desserts, assist with set-up/clean-up etc; lunch will be provided.

Ms. Ashley strongly recommends that all VYBC Dancers participate in VVAD Technique Week, August 11 - 15. Led by Master Teachers, Ashley Elizabeth Daigle and Stephen Straub, this critical week of technique instruction ensures dancers are ready for the upcoming season. Please register for the week or as many days as possible on the VVAD parent portal.

We are excited to announce that our Spring Showcase date has been confirmed: Saturday, April 4 with two performances at Vail Mountain School. Mark your calendars!

Please review the 2025-26 Calendar, as new events/activities have been added!

Thank you!

Meggen Kirkham, VFOD President & The VFOD Board Members

970-331-5073

vailfriendsofdance@gmail.com

Important Dates

Dancing in the Park Dancer Outing - July 31 at 5:30, Nottingham Park

VVAD Technique Intensive Week (highly recommended) August 11 - 15 (register on parent portal)

2025-26 VYBC/VFOD Welcome Tea at Vail Christian High School Commons Room (mandatory for dancers and parent(s))- Sunday, August 24, 12:30pm - 4:00pm

Nutcracker Auditions (mandatory) - Saturday, September 6, times TBD

VYBC Dancer Photo Shoot (mandatory) - Sunday, September 7, all day

Nutcracker Costume Fitting Day (mandatory) - Saturday, September 13

VYBC Dancer Team Building Session (mandatory) - Sunday, September 14

Wonderbound Dancer Outing (optional) - October 26

Nutcracker Pop-Up Performance at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch (optional) - Saturday, November 29

Nutcracker STARS Performance - Friday, Dec. 12, 10am and 12:30pm

Nutcracker 2025 Performances at Vilar Center - Dec. 12 (7pm), 13 (1pm & 7pm), 14 (1pm)

Valentine's Day Ball Community Event & Fundraiser - Eagle Vail Pavillion, Friday, February 6

Spring Showcase 2026 - April 4 (two performances at Vail Mountain School); and dress rehearsal April 3

VYBC Awards Banquet 2026 - Sunday, April 12

Complete 2025-26 Calendar Is Posted online

VYBC Uniform Jacket Order Due Aug. 1st

VYBC Dancers will need a new required uniform jacket personalized with VYBC and their name. The jacket is the Lulu Define (pictured to the right) and the cost is $56/dancer with VFOD covering the balance (retails for $125). We MUST collect your dancers name for the jacket and size by August 1st. Younger dancers, please consider sizing up so the jacket fits for years ahead. Find sizing information here. Please submit name and size to Theresa Anders by August 1st. Payment can be made via Venmo @VailFriendsofDance or check mailed to VFOD, PO Box 212, Vail, CO 81658.

Other VYBC Logo wear from Champion will also be available to purchase online soon if desired.

Rotary Duck Sale LIVE Fundraiser for Personal Dancer Education Funds

Vail Friends of Dance participates in the Rotary Duck Sales fundraiser and dancers earn 75% of the ducks they sell to be applied to their personal dancer education account. Ducks can be sold online; be sure to have purchasers select Vail Friends of Dance when purchasing and let you know they've made a purchase so you can keep track of purchases made on your behalf. This is the ONLY way dollars can be tracked to you. Ducks may also be sold in person at Walmart and local grocery stores (*with permission from the store). Paper order forms will be available shortly.

Christy & Elsa Hasselbach are leading the duck sales efforts; please reach out to Christy with any questions. All paper order forms and money must be turned into Christy/Elsa by August 28 to be entered into the Duck Race on August 31.

VAIL DANCE FESTIVAL OPPORTUNITIES

Master Classes

Advanced-level dancers are invited to join a stellar roster of classes taught by Festival artists! Each class is an intimate opportunity to train with a selection of extraordinary figures in dance in a variety of styles. Classes are $30 each. If you are a Dance Festival Ambassador and are under 14 years of age, you are allowed to take the classes (and at no charge). If you are under 14 years of age and are not an Ambassador, you will need to wait until you are 14 years old to take these classes. Remember, you are a representative of VVAD, VFOD, and VYBC when attending these classes and you need to be in clean and presentable attire/shoes/hair and be respectful at all times.

CONVERSATIONS IN DANCE

VYBC Dancers are invited to attend any and all Conversations in Dance at no cost!

There are several Conversations in Dance events throughout the event.

Use Promo Code - VDF2025VVAD (*Please do not share this with non VYBC dancers)
Promo code must be entered BEFORE discounted price will be available to select
Promo code is not case sensitive
Tickets already purchased at full price may not be refunded or exchanged
Need help? Contact us at boxoffice@vvf.org or (970) 845-8497

Dancing in the Park Dancer Outing - Avon Pavilion, July 31 at 5:30pm This is our FIRST group dancer outing and we hope to see everyone (dancers and parents)! Bring a blanket, picnic and beverages. We will meet up at 5pm at the north corner of the stage this wonderful FREE performance. More details to come!

Dancing with Heather Watts - July 30 at 11am - Dancers have a NEW opportunity to attend for FREE. Please let Meggen know by Monday if you would like a ticket.

Dance Festival Events - July 25 - August 5

Take advantage of the incredible line up of performances across the 2 weeks of the festival. Discounted student tickets, free lawn tickets for 12 and under, and other really incredible ticket packages: Ticket Information

2025-26 VFOD Sponsorship Opportunities

VFOD is kicking off a concerted effort to generate Sponsorships and has updated our Sponsorship Sales packet to clearly show all the ways people can support VFOD—while nudging them toward higher-level sponsorships when possible. If you are interested in being a part of our sponsorship sales team and/or you or a business you know are interested in a sponsorship this year, please reach out to Jenna Barclay. Sponsorships generated will be applied to required sales amounts for the 2025-26 season.

DANCE WEAR DONATION

VYBC is hosting a Dance Wear Sale (thank you Ellie Glass and Vivian Anders for organizing) and will be collecting donations of gently used and new dancewear June 16 - August 1st (see flyer for details). Please drop your goods off at the studio in the designated box. Additional information on the sale will come later. All proceeds benefit the Dancers' Education Accounts.

Vail Friends of Dance | Contact Us |

Vail Friends of Dance is a IRS 501 (c) (3) organization. VFOD does not discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, age, race, color or ethnic origin.

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