Lake Tahoe Dance Collective to Present The 14th Annual Lake Tahoe Dance Festival
The multi-venue festival in North Lake Tahoe will feature Daniel Ulbricht, Taylor Stanley, and Melody Mennite.
Lake Tahoe Dance Collective is delighted to present the 14th Annual Lake Tahoe Dance Festival from July 21-24, 2026, featuring artists from New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Broadway, Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet, and more. An opening night gala in Incline Village marks the beginning of the Festival, followed by Kings Beach Community Night, Tahoe City Community Night, and a closing night gala in William B. Layton Park.
With a mission to present the finest quality professional dance and dance instruction in North Lake Tahoe, Christin Hanna and Constantine Baecher started The Lake Tahoe Dance Festival in 2013, now in its second decade. Lake Tahoe Dance commissions new works, preserves the legacy of rarely seen classics and fan favorites, while offering the highest caliber artists a creative platform.
Artists featured at the 2026 Lake Tahoe Dance Festival include Sierra Armstrong and Andrew Robare (American Ballet Theatre); Lia Cirio and Paul Craig (Boston Ballet); Adrian Danchig-Waring, Taylor Stanley, Indiana Woodward, and Daniel Ulbricht (New York City Ballet); Stephen Hanna (New York City Ballet/Broadway); and Melody Mennite (Houston Ballet).
The Leaves Are Fading by Antony Tudor
Dancers: Sierra Armstrong & Andrew Robare
This delicately nuanced pas de deux is a reflection on love and the bittersweet beauty of the passing of life. As Summer drifts into Autumn we are reminded of the many seasons of our own lives, and how the melancholic beauty of falling blossoms and fading leaves can be seen as a greater metaphor of the infinite nature of life itself.
Shadow Lovers by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
Dancers: Stephen Hanna & Melody Mennite
Shadow Lovers is choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and set to music by Henry Purcell, with costumes by Mark Zappone. The work explores themes of loss and grief, tracing how the absence of a loved one endures even as grief itself evolves over time, revealing a shifting emotional landscape shaped by memory and presence.
Rubies (Excerpt - Pas de Deux) by George Balanchine
Dancers: Indiana Woodward & Daniel Ulbricht
Choreographed by George Balanchine as part of his landmark 1967 ballet Jewels, Rubies is set to the electrifying score of Igor Stravinsky and embodies a bold, distinctly American energy-playful, jazzy, and sharply modern. At its center, the pas de deux captures this spirit with virtuosic technique and syncopated musicality, blending classical precision with a flirtatious, offbeat edge. Created for iconic dancers such as Patricia McBride and Edward Villella, it offers a dynamic portrait of partnership that is both dazzling and delightfully irreverent.
Sarong Paramaribo by Lester Horton
Dancer: Kristina Berger
Premiered in 1950 in Los Angeles, Sarong Paramaribo is a striking solo by Lester Horton set to music by Les Baxter. Performed here by Kristina Berger, the only remaining artist from this direct lineage, the work continues through her stewardship as it has been passed down by earlier generations of influential dance artists. The costume, reconstructed from the original design by Donald Martin, reflects this lineage and preserves a key visual element of the ballet's history.
Herman Schmerman (Pas de Deux) by William Forsythe
Dancers: Lia Cirio & Paul Craig
An excerpt from Herman Schmerman highlights the distinctive voice of William Forsythe, whose innovative approach to choreography has expanded the boundaries of classical ballet. The work reflects his signature style, combining technically demanding movement with a sense of energy, wit, and playfulness. The ballet is set to "Herman Schmerman" by Thom Willems and is punctuated with dancers in vibrant yellow Versace costumes.
"I first heard that phrase ['Herman Schmerman'] used by Steve Martin in the film Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid. I think it's a lovely title that means nothing. The ballet means nothing, too. It's a piece about dancing that will be a lot of fun. It's just...talented dancers dancing around-and that's good, isn't it?"
-William Forsythe
Apollo (Pas de Deux) by George Balanchine
Dancers: Taylor Stanley & Indiana Woodward
The Apollo pas de deux is an iconic, neoclassical duet choreographed by George Balanchine in 1928, set to Igor Stravinsky's score. It features Apollo and the muse of dance, Terpsichore, in a "conversation" known for its intricate, mirrored movements and a famous "swimming" lift, showcasing a young god's discovery of art and love.
AkaMya Culture Group Offering (Friday Only)
Artists: Sage Romero, Caitlin, and Kaelene
AkaMya Culture Group Artists Sage Romero, Caitlin Ashmore, and Kaelene Ashmore will share hoop dance and songs in honor and respect of the WaSheShuItDeh place and people. Their offering is shared in recognition of this land and its ancestors, with the intention of opening the space in a good way.
"Thank you, Christin Hanna and Constantine Baecher, for founding this festival of living dance history, and keeping going. You are keepers of humanity and hope." - Fjord Review
Opening Night Benefit Gala
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 5pm at Private Residence, Incline Village
Celebrate the 14th Annual Lake Tahoe Dance Festival at the Opening Night Benefit in Incline Village-an elegant lakeside evening featuring a live performance, abundant wine, and plentiful hors d'oeuvres by celebrated chef Alex Tolger, with opportunities to support this beloved nonprofit organization. Seating provided.
Kings Beach Community Night
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 6pm at Kings Beach State Recreation Area
Lake Tahoe Dance Festival believes strongly in making sure that the finest in dance is accessible to the whole community. Join Community Night in Kings Beach, where all tickets are just $35!
Tahoe City Community Night
Thursday, July 23, 2025 at 6pm at William B. Layton Park, Tahoe City
Bring your friends & family, a picnic blanket or chair, and enjoy this evening of dance and community in Tahoe City, tickets only $35!
Closing Night Gala
Friday, July 24, 2026 at 6pm at William B. Layton Park
The Lake Tahoe Dance Festival's Closing Night Gala celebrates bringing the finest in Dance to the shore of Lake Tahoe! Artists from New York City Ballet, Broadway, Boston Ballet and more grace the stage following the pre-performance reception with food, wine, and silent auction. In addition to our stage performance, artists from AkaMya Culture Group will share native dances of celebration and community on the shore of Lake Tahoe.
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