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The mountain area’s newspaper since 1958
est. 1958
WEEK OF DECEMBER 1, 2022
VOLUME 64 ISSUE 4
NOW SERVING EVERGREEN, CONIFER, BAILEY AND PINE
75 CENTS
Words about LGBTQ+ community matter, say leaders across Denver area in wake of Club Q shooting BY COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA STAFF
studios — known as the Mountain Area Dance Collective — is working so well that Danielle Heller, owner of Peak Academy of Dance, wants to present the idea at the National Dance Education Association convention in a couple years. “This shows us we can do things differently,” she said. “My hope is this Mountain Area Dance Collective becomes a flagship organization for a new way of looking at how to
In the wake of a deadly mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, leaders in cities and counties to the north are among those denouncing hate and violence. From county commissioners to newly-elected sheriffs, to mayors and chiefs of police, community leaders say words of support for the LGBTQ+ community are needed now and should continue beyond the tragedy. “Clubs like Club Q are one of our safe places where we can be free and celebrate who we are, but clubs should not be the only places we feel safe,” said Jessica CampbellSwanson, commissioner-elect for Arapahoe County. Campbell-Swanson, who is bisexual, will be the first openly LGBTQ+ member of the board when she takes office. It is a milestone she said signals a desire by many to see a commission that mirrors the community. “I want the LGBTQ+ community to know one of us is on the board of commissioners, reviewing policy, looking out for us, doing what I can to make Arapahoe County a healthy and safe place for our community to thrive,” Campbell-Swanson said.
SEE NUTCRACKER, P17
SEE CLUB Q, P3
From left, Milena Dambrosky, Julia Wendel, Eddie Ells, Jade Van Lennep, Aurora Farrant and Dava Krane will be performing in “The Nutcracker” in December. While Julia, Eddie and Jade dance for Peak Academy of Dance, Milena dances for Kinetic Arts, Aurora PHOTO BY DEB HURLEY BROBST dances for Kinetic Arts and Evergreen School of Ballet, and Dava dances for Evergreen Dance Studio.
Four foothills dance studios join forces to present ‘The Nutcracker’ BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
For four dance studios in Evergreen and Conifer, there’s been a bright side to the pandemic. The owners at the studios — Peak Academy of Dance, Kinetic Arts, Evergreen School of Ballet and Evergreen Dance Studio — lost students during the pandemic, so they decided collaboration might be an innovative option to improve attendance and give dance students
a new experience. A summer class went so well that they decided to collaborate on the holiday favorite, Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,” which will be performed in December. Since performances are sold out, they are offering two additional options to view the show: Purchase a DVD or view the show via a link between Dec. 21 and Jan. 21. For more information, visit www.peak-education.com. The collaboration rather than competition among the dance
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Holiday happenings Opinion
2 Thanksgiving lunch 8 Skiing
6 Turkey trot 9 Life
6 VSA poetry 12 Sheriff’s calls
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