Two-hundred and thirty dancers will take the stage Thursday at the Steamboat Springs High School auditorium, as Steamboat Dance Theatre presents its annual concert.

“It is our main, biggest fundraiser,” said Lori Biagi, who took over the executive director’s position for Steamboat Dance Theatre earlier this year. “It helps fund the scholarship program. We’re seeing a really big increase in need right now because the cost of living is rising.”

She said the nonprofit organization has gone from awarding $14,000 to $15,000, and to $17,000 in recent years. She said the group is hoping to raise enough to award $25,000 to $30,000 this year, as Steamboat Dance Theatre uses the money raised by the concert to support local dancers.

---

---

“It’s of any age,” Biagi said. “It’s for tuition, continuing education, classes, workshops, anything. If they want travel and take a workshop or something like that, we help fund that too.”

The hope is those dancers will bring what they learn back to the Steamboat Dance community.

---

---

While the annual concert highlights what Steamboat Dance Theatre wants to bring to the community, Biagi said it is about so much more. She is the organization’s first full-time director, and recently took Kristen Jespersen’s position.

Biagi said Jespersen did an amazing job as the organization’s first executive director, and Biagi’s goals are to build and expand upon the foundation Jespersen laid.

“We’ve stepped into the community a lot more, and we’re working with a lot of different nonprofits and other groups for collaborations,” Biagi said. “We’re trying to bring workshops and free workshops and presentations to the community. I think it’s just like having somebody get out there in the community and connect with as many people as I can and working on Dance Vitality, a program that explores the benefits of dance in aging and longevity, mental health and athletic performance.”

Biagi said there is nothing else like Steamboat Dance Theatre in community, and that will be on full display at the annual concert that draws on a wide range of experience — including everyone from top-level dancers to those that are just getting started.

Through the annual dance concert, community members are invited to produce, choreograph and perform in the show, and this year’s concert will feature 29 choreographers who created 19 pieces covering a variety of dance styles.

Performances include “In the Club” by Alexa Struss and Avery Globe; “All I Know” by Alexa Taylor; “Monotonia” by Scott Goodhart; “Single, Single Double” by Aleah Edwards; “Dance the Night Away” by Kelly Cook and Haley Orton; “Hula” by Jenn Simbre; “Acro Jazz” by Emily Stein; “Decades” by Jean Labaree, Jennifer McCannon and Rebecca McNamara; “Like This” by Meg Southcott; “The Sea-nic Route” by Kat Goodhand Deena Selko; “Dicso Heat” by Courtney Gerber; “I Like It” by Kaylee Ayres and Danielle Zimmerer; “Luminescent Rhapsody” by Heathre Naused and Tracy Peterson; “Shape of You” by Heidi Meshurel-Jolly; “Humans Connecting” by Juanita Rastello; “I Want You to Know Who I Am” by Marlowe Linford; “Dirty Tap If You’ll Allow It. If not, Dirty Pop” by Chelsea Beers; “Witch Era” by Mandy Quinones; and “80s Ski Race” by Steph Rabbitt, Janet Peasley and Traci Hiatt.

“Every time I walk into the high school this week, I’m filled with that sense of belonging, pride and joy,” Biagi said. “I’m amazed at how much we have grown and evolved, and I absolutely love how much joy people exude either from participating or watching the show. Dance is such a powerful tool in life. We want to spread that love while doing meaningful work to support the community.”

Performances are set for Thursday, Friday and Saturday at SSHS. Tickets are sold out, but there is a live-streaming option available. For more, go to SteamboatDanceTheatre.org.