As I mentioned last week, Ballet Nouveau Colorado – a terrific contemporary dance company who does lots of good for the community – is holding a benefit on Thursday night. The event, called “Moving Together” dance groups from around the country, has been put together to close their budget shortfall so that they can continue to operate.

BNC announced today that if you are a student, artist, or non-profit employee, you can purchase tickets at the discounted rate of $20. Otherwise, full price tickets are still available and the money is going to an excellent cause.

Either way, please consider showing this organization your support! This is likely to be one of the best dance events in Colorado this year, so it’s pretty much a win-win situation.

Over the past few months, I’ve had the privilege of seeing a contemporary, love-themed performance by Ballet Nouveau Colorado, as well as seeing them rehearse and then open a brand-new ballet entitled Somewhere American, Volume 1. During both events, I was impressed with the creativity and ingenuity of BNC, which plays the rare role of actually bringing something completely new to its audiences.

In addition to performing new pieces for the Denver-Boulder area, BNC is also an active part of the community. I was impressed to hear about BNC’s involvement in area schools where they work to make academic material engaging for struggling students, through dance and art.

The word “America” means many different things to different people, but it always conjures up a strong reaction. Some hold images of America as being unfailingly brilliant, bold, and brave; for others, it suggests something evil, predatory, or simply profane.

And yet the most interesting, and perhaps accurate, interpretations of this strange nation are those that take a more nuanced viewpoint and recognize the complexities of America’s story.

Two days before Valentine’s Day, a ballet all about love was an interesting choice for a chronically-single gay man such as myself to attend.

Last night, I went to Ballet Nouveau Colorado’s original production, Love. an internal affair., without considering that the audience would be a venerable parade of heterosexual couples. Normally one wouldn’t see a huge quantity of straight men at the ballet (at least not outside of Manhattan), but two days before Cupid’s arrows were to be shot, there were plenty men willing to bite the bullet in an attempt to please their girlfriends or wives.

Nevertheless, there was plenty for this young homo to enjoy. After all, the two reasons I love contemporary ballet are that, firstly, and like all contemporary art forms, it isn’t as locked to heteronormativity as are more traditional styles of art; and secondly, there are lots of beautiful men (and women) upon which to marvel.

When I first arrived in Denver, I was surprised to find that the so-called “theatre district” was not a cluster of aging performance halls that had spread like a cancer over the decades, but rather a series of venues all arranged in the same building. The term seems to be referring, most or less, to the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, an enormous complex with a distinctly Coloradan open-air quality.

Set in my East Coast ways, I had initially laughed at the term “theatre district” having been invoked. But it turns out that a performing arts hub that isn’t ancient has its benefits.

With two ticket giveaways and a mention in my recent column, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival has been getting much buzz on the Denver-Metro side of TNG. And it’s with good reason – the yearly series in beautiful Boulder is considered to be one of the best in the U.S.

Last weekend I caught their production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). If, like me, you have never seen this work before, it’s basically a humorous compilation of Willie’s great works, ranging from comedy to tragedy and from the best-known to the practically unheard of. In the course of two hours, the cast presents a shortened and highly lightened-up version of Romeo and Juliet; a remix of Shakespeare’s many comedies, which if you believe their story are all pretty much the same, anyway; and a version of Hamlet that starts out running at about fifteen minutes and gets chopped down to fifteen seconds.

It’s a pretty goddamned funny play, the rare spoof that can be appreciated by fans of various degrees or by those who don’t actually care for Shakespeare. It might be enjoyed in different ways, but as an audience member that is part of the fun. And the cast of three – which includes one attractive young actor who could pass as Dustin Lance Black’s less porny cousin – really pulls off the mix between slapstick and vomit humor and the sharp commentary on one of the world’s most famous writers.

Last week we gave away two tickets to see The Two Gentlemen of Verona at Boulder’s Colorado Shakespeare Festival… This week we have another chance for you to make it to what is considered one of the best Bard bashes in the country! If you want two tix to see the opening night of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) this Friday, 7/24 at 7:30, here’s what to do.

Dear TNG – this is a repost of our giveaway of 2 tickets to a Colorado Shakespeare Festival event this weekend. SUBMIT YOUR ANSWERS ASAP TO WIN!

If you live in the Denver/Boulder area and enjoy The Bard, TNG is giving you two chances to win tickets to the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, which Time calls “one of the top Shakespeare festivals in the U.S.”

Our first giveaway is for two tickets to see The Two Gentlemen of Verona on its opening night – Sunday, July 19 at 7:30pm. To enter, please answer the following question both in the comments section below AND by email to corey@thenewgay.net.

If you live in the Denver/Boulder area and enjoy The Bard, TNG is giving you two chances to win tickets to the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, which Time calls “one of the top Shakespeare festivals in the U.S.”

Our first giveaway is for two tickets to see The Two Gentlemen of Verona on its opening night – Sunday, July 19 at 7:30pm. To enter, please answer the following question both in the comments section below AND by email to corey@thenewgay.net.

A Denver summer tradition returns for a 5th year. fieldDAY5 is Saturday, May 16, 2009 from noon to 7:00 at Washington Park. We’ll be at Picnic Area #2 Dust off your flip flops and fill your cooler with hot dogs.

At 9am, run the fieldDAY5K. Runners meet at Picnic Area #2. Fitness first then fun. Planned events this year include: Relay, Tug of War, Treasure Hunt & Egg Toss.