Aspen, Colorado is a mecca for both music and dance enthusiasts, and two of its premier organizations are the Belly Up Aspen Music Venue and the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. While seemingly disparate, these two organizations share a common thread: they are both dedicated to providing high-quality arts experiences to audiences from all walks of life.
The Belly Up Aspen Music Venue has been a fixture in the Aspen community since 2005, hosting a diverse array of musical acts ranging from up-and-coming indie bands to internationally renowned performers like John Oates and The Flaming Lips. The venue’s intimate size and state-of-the-art sound system make for a truly immersive concert experience. As one Yelp reviewer noted, “It’s like having a private concert in your living room.”
Meanwhile, the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Folklorico is a dance troupe that celebrates the rich cultural traditions of Mexico through a fusion of ballet and folk dance styles. Their performances showcase the vibrant costumes and infectious rhythms of traditional Mexican dance, while also pushing the boundaries of what is possible within the art form. As the Aspen Times noted in a review of their 2019 performance, “The dancers melded classical ballet with the intricate footwork and rhythms of folk dance, creating a unique and exciting performance that left the audience cheering for more.”
So what ties these two organizations together? At their core, both the Belly Up Aspen and the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet are committed to creating transformative arts experiences that bring people together and foster a sense of community. As Belly Up Aspen founder Michael Goldberg has said, “We’re not just a music venue, we’re a community hub.” Similarly, the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s mission is to “enrich the cultural life of our communities through the art of dance.”
In an era in which the arts are often undervalued and underfunded, the Belly Up Aspen and the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet stand out as organizations that prioritize excellence in their respective fields while also staying true to their values of accessibility and community engagement. As Aspen resident and Belly Up Aspen regular Chris Klug put it, “It’s amazing to have such high-quality music in a small town like Aspen. And the fact that the Belly Up is so committed to giving back to the community makes it even better.”
So next time you’re in Aspen, be sure to check out the Belly Up Aspen Music Venue and the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Folklorico – two world-class organizations that are making a positive impact both on and off the stage.