Last year, Steamboat Dance theater celebrated its 50th anniversary with a concert centered on the theme of “Turn the Beat Around.” In its 51st year, the theme is “The Beat Goes On,” and auditions for the annual spring concert are this weekend. 

The adult-only performance is slated to take place in April. It’s the biggest community fundraiser for Steamboat Dance Theatre, but what makes it really special is that anyone can take part. 

Experienced movers and twirlers will be joined by those who only dance while vacuuming alone at home. 

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“It’s a pretty unique opportunity in the sense that if you’re not a professional dancer as an adult, it’s infrequent that you get to perform on stage,” said Steamboat Dance Theatre Executive Director Kristen Jespersen. “We bring this opportunity to experience performance and build a community with other dancers through the rehearsal process. That has a lasting impact on their general well-being, mental health, physical health and that connection to a larger community.”

The auditions take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 13, at Steamboat Fit as choreographers run through the planned program. Each choreographer will have 25 minutes to teach those interested in a portion of their piece, of which there are 17 total. No one will be dancing alone, but rather in small groups. 

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Dances range from beginner level to intermediate and some are open to all abilities. Styles also vary, meaning there truly is a dance for everyone. Detailed audition times can be found at SteamboatDanceTheatre.org/Annual-Concert/.

“There’s everything from lyrical, contemporary, broadway jazz, pop, hip-hop, funk, country,” said board member Jessica Whalen. “So, we’re kind of covering all the genres.”

People can participate in as many dances as they want and at the end of the day will be asked to rate their top five pieces. 

Cast members are decided in numerical order. Those who show up early get a lower number. 

“Every single person is cast in at least one dance,” Whalen said. 

Last year, 119 people participated and Whalen suspects about the same amount of people will take part this year, if not a little more. 

“Last year was us coming back from us being a virtual show,” Whalen said. “I think there was a broader audience being able to see the show and how inclusive it is.”

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The only prerequisite for auditions is to be a member of Steamboat Dance Theatre, which is $45. Participants can sign up at the audition, or online at SteamboatDanceTheatre.org.

That money goes right back into the dance community, helping Steamboat Dance Theatre provide scholarships and expand programming.

“We are bringing dance into all the third-grade classrooms in Routt County, to the best of our ability,” Jespersen said. “Through that we are exposing them, giving them mandatory access to dance so they have the opportunity to learn and determine if it’s for them.”

Shelby Reardon is the assistant editor at the Steamboat Pilot & Today. To reach her, call 970-871-4253, email sreardon@SteamboatPilot.com or follow her on Twitter @ByShelbyReardon.