Aspen Dance Connection’s show, “Emergence,” will feature seven different dances from five well-established Colorado choreographers at 7:30 p.m. July 17 at TACAW. 

“There’s so much talent in Colorado; they’re exceptional,” ADC director Fran Page said. 

The choreographers — Carbondale resident Alexandra Jerkunica, Amy Anderson of Engage Movement Arts in Denver, Maureen Breeze of Maureen Breeze Dance Theater in Denver and Grand Junction-based Rebecca Fleishman and Liz Vrettos — have generated works for the 18 professional freelance dancers who will perform at TACAW. The artists also dance professionally with Colorado Ballet, Ballet Ariel and Wonderbound in Denver, as well as with choreographers in New York City. 

It’s the only time this specific configuration comes together to perform “Emergence,” though Page does take dancers to show up at flash mobs at the Wednesday music at River Park in Basalt — the next one takes place Aug. 12 at 7 p.m.

The dancers will also give free sneak peaks, presenting excerpts from “Emergence,” at the Parachute, New Castle and Glenwood Springs libraries on July 15. From 10-11 a.m. July 16, they perform at the Carbondale library, where Breeze also leads children in combining gestures, rhythms and storytelling.

ADC started in 1978, when eight local choreographers launched it to highlight their original works. Page has been the director since 1986. ADC presented 34 years of Colorado Choreographer Showcases at the Wheeler Opera House before moving to TACAW. The organization also is known for its outreach programs at schools, libraries and outdoor events from Aspen to Parachute, extending to more than 6,450 people. 

Friday’s show begins with Vrettos’ uplifting “Emanate.” 

“It’s a very, light, spiritual, fluid dance that ends up being more energetic,” Page said. 

Then, Gregory Gonzales and Sharon Wehner, the latter of whom was a prima ballerina at Colorado Ballet for 22 years, perform a duet called “Shoes.” It depicts a conflict around a kitchen table, choreographed by Anderson.  

“This one really touches you emotionally but leaves on an upbeat (note),” Page said, adding that the ballet technique within the modern dance is very strong. “Gregory Gonzalez, who’s Amy’s husband, also has been a big part of a Colorado Ballet on a lot of different levels as a dancer and a choreographer. Now he’s a visiting dancer, and I think he’s in the best shape ever.” 

One of the longest pieces, “Shifting Grounds,” by Breeze, portrays modern society’s divisive world as five dancers move around a long table.  

“There’s this parallel of drama on the earth, as well as in our culture with people,” Page said, adding that it also has a light sense of humor. 

Breeze’s other piece, “Remnants of You,” reflects on a past relationship and includes a playful duet with a large metal door serving as a unique trapeze. It features lifts and intricate partnering. 

The name of ADC’s show, “Emergence,” partially took inspiration from Fleishman’s dance about a dragonfly shedding its skin, portraying the kind of strength that’s needed to emerge into one’s best self. She created the piece after her mother’s death. 

“It symbolizes being strong enough to go on with life and making the transformations,” Page said.  

Jerkunica’s piece follows, since shapes within the opening and closing reminded Page of a dragonfly. 

“To me, it’s like another section — it’s very balletic. She calls it ‘Elevation,’ meaning just flying high,” Page said. “It’s really beautiful … (with) very strong technique, and those shapes, yet there’s a softness at times, too.” 

The evening concludes with seven dancers performing Anderson’s “Panama Station,” about people waiting for a bus. It begins with a male drifter and incorporates three tourists, a honeymoon couple and an expatriate. 

“(It includes) all the funny stuff you can do with falling off the bench, and the music is upbeat,” Page said. “Amy and her husband (Gonzales) have done a lot of tango, so those rhythms are in there, but again, lots of humor.” 

The Front Range Passenger Rail District is rallying support from the cities where the future rail line will operate. Denver City Council got on board with a proclamation made Monday at its regular meeting. Denver is the latest of nearly a dozen municipalities to publicly express its support for the railway. 

Councilman Darrell Watson sponsored the proclamation that received unanimous support.

“Right now, we’re dealing with forest fires throughout the state,” Watson said. “That air that’s coming in, having a cleaner approach to transit is important, and the Front Range Rail provides that.”

The proclamation also supports the creation of two additional “special events” stops that are south of Union Station and therefore would need voter approval. 

“One is on South Broadway and I-25 for the new Denver Summit stadium, as well as Burnham Yard for the new Denver Broncos stadium,” explained Sal Pace, the Front Range Passenger Rail District’s general manager.

For Pace, the support is another step in the right direction for future expansion. 

“We’re asking the local municipalities to agree with the station locations and the placement of stations across the district,” Pace said. “That way if we refer a ballot question, that it’s done in alignment with the local municipalities, such as here in Denver.”

But city support also brings monetary gains.

“Because of its population, Denver will be receiving $225 million in local return Pace explained. “And for passing this proclamation, they’ve just qualified themselves for an additional $22.5 million in local return dollars,” he said. “That money will be coming from any future tax revenue that a district is collecting.”

“This is a unique opportunity, not just for Denver, but for anyone that loves rail and anyone that lives in the Front Range,” Watson added.

The first phase of the railway that the Colorado Connector (CoCo) will make trips on goes from Denver up to Boulder, on to Fort Collins. That phase is already funded and is expected to begin service in 2029. The Rail’s board will have a meeting in August on a possible ballot measure for this November. Voters from Fort Collins down to Trinidad would vote on the tax measure to support future expansion if placed on the ballot.

Happy college football prediction month!

July is when preseason projections hit for the upcoming season.

The Colorado State football team is approaching the first preseason camp under new coach Jim Mora, which brings hopes of a new beginning after the Rams went 2-10 in 2025.

Here’s a look at how some of the national outlets project the Rams to fare in 2026:

Athlon Sports

The national college football magazine projection for 2026 picks CSU to finish seventh in the eight-team league.

Tight end Juice Vereen is the only Ram Athlon projects to be first-team all-conference. The magazine also lists Vereen as its No. 10 in the top transfers section.

Oklahoma State transfer Hauss Hejny is the No. 3 player in Athlon’s top transfers, with the magazine saying, “Hejny is a former blue-chip recruit who showed promise for the Cowboys.”