Creative Collaboration of Dance, Drama, and Musical Performances Expands Summer Series at the Arvada Center

May 18, 2010

Colorado Ballet and Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra. The Denver Brass and Ballet Ariel. PHAMALY and 7dancers. These creative pairings of arts organizations from the Denver metro area represent only a glimpse of the cultural programs to be presented as part of the 2010 Summer at the Center series at the Arvada Center Amphitheater. Titled CenterFest, this weekly Thursday evening series features many of the region’s finest organizations in dance, drama, instrumental and choral music, in combinations never before presented on a single program or in one venue.

“We are honored to be the first organization to present so many Denver-area arts and cultural groups in one summer series,” said Gene Sobczak, executive director for the Arvada Center. “By pairing these organizations in cross-disciplinary programs, audiences have the opportunity to experience a wide variety of performing arts in a relaxing and beautiful outdoor setting.”
Many of the arts organizations performing at CenterFest this summer receive some of their funding through the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), the seven-county Denver metro district that distributes a one penny on $10 sales tax to arts, science, and cultural organizations.

“CenterFest at the Arvada Center supports the SCFD’s mission to make the arts and culture accessible,” said James Harrington, chairman of the SCFD board. “The collaborative programming combines the talents and strengths of various groups and has great appeal and potential for enlightening and entertaining the public.”

“CenterFest would not be possible without the SCFD,” said Sobczak. “It fosters the conversations and collaborations, and builds strong relationships necessary for working together for executing a series as comprehensive as this.”

CenterFest – part of the Arvada Center’s 2010 Summer at the Center series of music, theater, and art – provides arts organizations,  that normally serve patrons only from September through May, an opportunity to reach new audiences in the summer. The series also provides audiences with an opportunity to see a variety of arts and cultural organizations at a single venue, one that is easy to get to and has ample free parking.
CenterFest’s July programming, which includes The Denver Brass and Ballet Ariel, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, and Ballet Folkorico de Fiesta Colorado and Mono Verde, is presented in partnership with the Biennial of the Americas, a month-long cultural celebration of innovation, imagination, and artistic achievement of the Western Hemisphere, hosted by the City of Denver.

 “With our expanded Summer at the Center 2010 series, featuring CenterFest, our new Summer Stage concert series, live theater, and fine art exhibitions, our goal is for the Arvada Center to emerge as the premier summer destination for arts and culture along the Front Range,” said Sobczak.

Tickets for CenterFest are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.SummerAtTheCenter.org, by calling 720-898-7200, and by visiting the Arvada Center box office at 6901 Wadsworth Boulevard in Arvada. CenterFest opens at 5 p.m. with exhibition booths staffed by SCFD organizations. Performances begin at 6 p.m. for the opening act and 7:30 p.m. for the main act.

CenterFest 2010 Summer Schedule, www.SummerAtTheCenter.com
June 3, Arvada Chorale and *Colcannon
June 10, Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra and Boulder Bach Festival
June 17, Ballet Nouveau Colorado and Lighthouse Writers Workshop
July 1, ** The Denver Brass and Ballet Ariel
July 8, ** Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble and *Motion Underground
July 15, Colorado Symphony Orchestra and Colorado Repertory Singers
July 22, ** Ballet Folkorico de Fiesta Colorado and Mono Verde
August 5, Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra
August 12, St. Martin’s Chamber Choir and Kim Robards Dance
August 18, Colorado Ballet and Metro Jazz Orchestra
August 26 & 27, PHAMALY & 7dancers
September 2, Jefferson Symphony Orchestra
* non-SCFD organization
** in partnership with Biennial of the America’s 2010 celebration

About the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities is one of the nation’s largest multidisciplinary arts centers, devoted to all aspects of the arts and generously supported by the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). For more information, visit www.arvadacenter.org.

Media Contact: Janet Braccio
Phone: 720.898.7276
Email: jbraccio@arvadacenter.org