For more than five decades, Steamboat Dance Theatre has built a space where movement is more about belonging than perfection.

That collective ethos will once again take center stage with the organization’s annual concert, which has become a much-anticipated production that celebrates the organization’s foundation, its participants and its future.

“This is our flagship event and what our organization was founded upon in 1972,” said Lori Biagi, SDT executive director. “It’s our legacy and we are proud to continue this tradition as a means for community connection and artistry.”

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This year’s production is titled “The Village: Rooted in Rhythm.” The title accurately reflects that mission as more than 200 performers take the stage. As a result, the show is less a traditional recital and more a living portrait of a community in motion and transition.

Performances will take place at Steamboat Springs High School at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 26-28; and at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 28.

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The event serves as the organization’s largest fundraiser, which in turn supports scholarships and programs across Routt County.

But numbers and dollars only tell part of the story.

The production is also deeply personal, both individually for participants and collectively for the organization and the community as a whole, in the shared drive to create a space where anyone, regardless of experience or talent, can step onto a stage and feel seen.

“It means our outreach of being inclusive, no matter what dance level you are, is working,” said Pam Peretz, SDT treasurer.

That inclusivity is a lived experience for many participants, as opposed to simply being a goal for the organization.

“As a child and teenager, I loved and wanted to dance, but my body type was not accepted in the dance world,” Peretz said. “When I found Steamboat Dance Theatre, it was a game changer. The acceptance meant so much to me.”

That acceptance has become a constant within the organization and is evident in every rehearsal, performance and new dancer who decides to audition.

“I cannot tell you the number of people who saw the show and thought, ‘I want to try that,'” Biagi said. “The concert process creates friendships and builds confidence. We need more of that in the world.”

For artistic director Kat Gingrich, that response helped shape the creative direction of the show.

“With the theme of ‘The Village’, I wanted to focus heavily on inclusion,” Gingrich said. “That led to the show increasing from 18 pieces to 22 to allow for as many dancers to participate as possible.”

As a result, the production spans many styles, cultures and levels of experience.

“When I first moved to Steamboat, there were just three tap dancers in the Steamboat Dance Theatre show,” said choreographer Rebecca McNamara. “After launching a tap dancing group called Tappy Hour this year, we now have over 18 dancers of all levels performing together.”

That organic, community-driven development, for McNamara, captures the true heart and soul of SDT.

“That is what Steamboat Dance Theatre is all about — sharing our passion, spreading joy and passing the art of dance from one generation to the next,” McNamara said.

This year, audiences can expect everything from ballet and contemporary to tap, jazz, funk and musical theater. These will be performed alongside global influences like Latin, Irish, hula and African dance.

And, for the first time, the concert will also feature an all-male piece.

“It’s truly a very diverse show this year,” Peretz said. “There is something for everyone.”

That diversity extends beyond the choreography. It is reflected in a cast that includes seasoned performers, first-time dancers, young professionals, parents and retirees.

“Strong bonds and friendships form with people you may not have met otherwise,” Peretz said. “It’s a village of multiethnic dancers that bring diverse cultural experiences together. We share our love, our pain and our experiences and realize we are the same.”

Throughout the preparations for the annual concert, rehearsals become just as meaningful as the performance.

This season, dancers supported one another through major life events, including surgeries and other personal milestones, all while stepping in to support and lift each other up when needed.

“That’s the spirit of Dance Theatre,” Peretz said. “The support we have for each other in many aspects of our lives.”

That spirit and community-based care was perhaps most visible in a moment that organizers say captured the heart of this year’s production.

During a community class led by a visiting African dancer and drummer, participants gathered in a circle at the end and sang together: “We are light, we are free, we are grace.”

“There wasn’t a dry eye in the room,” Biagi said. “This is why we do what we do. We create space for connection, for expression, for community.”

Producing a show of this scale is no small task, with more than 200 performers, dozens of choreographers and rehearsals spread across multiple locations. As a result, the process requires constant coordination, flexibility and dedication.

“There are a lot of moving parts,” Biagi said. “Each year presents opportunities for growth and evolution.”

Choreographers work with dancers of all skill levels by building routines and fostering mentorship within the different dance groups and within the organization as a whole. More experienced dancers often guide newcomers, which creates an environment where learning is shared rather than isolated.

“It’s all hands on deck,” Peretz said. “You can really see the camaraderie as dancers help each other.”

Even the logistics reflect the organization’s core values. When participation grew beyond expectations, the production team added more pieces while shortening their length, which ensured no one was turned away while keeping the show accessible for audiences.

That same commitment to accessibility extends beyond the stage.

Funds raised through the concert support a wide range of initiatives, including scholarships, youth outreach and programs focused on mental health, aging and adaptive dance. The organization has also introduced efforts to provide free tickets and expand access to those who might otherwise be unable to attend.

“We want people to have a place to go, even if they don’t have the means,” Biagi said.

This year, the fundraising model itself evolved as well, with participants sharing responsibility for reaching the organization’s goals. The result was both creative and successful, with dancers hosting events, classes and community-driven efforts that exceeded expectations.

Still, at its core, the concert remains about something simple — the connection that happens when people come together to create something larger than themselves through movement and shared expression.

“Dance is a powerful means of self-expression,” Biagi said. “Getting to be part of something bigger than yourself is uplifting, rewarding and inspiring.”

That message is what they hope audiences carry with them long after the final curtain.

“We hope people leave feeling that this is where the love is,” Biagi said. “There are so many ways to express and feel it, and we hope in these two hours we’ve given that to you.”

For more information or to buy tickets, visit SteamboatDanceTheatre.org.