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February 4 — Snow Ballet
Snow Ballet If you knew that synchronized skiing was a sport—and that the reigning world champions hail from Telluride—well, you’re more tuned in than we were. To boost awareness about the niche discipline, in which teams execute elaborate choreographed routines as they ski down the slope, this month the Telluride Ghostriders will host the first-ever National Synchro Ski Championships as a run-up to the World Synchro Championships in Aspen. (Currently, teams don’t need to qualify; they’re simply invited to participate in Worlds.) Generally, synchro ski contests also include individual downhill races and mogul runs; fans, however, come for the eye-catching formations. The events are usually spread out over two days, but the national championships will be held on just one day to better appeal to spectators—so you can watch the experts’ tricks on the hill one day and then try them yourselves the next.
February 10-12 — Dance Dance Resolution
The swing-dancing scene is alive and swingin’ in Denver. (Both the Mercury Cafe and Denver Turnverein devote several nights a week to different swing styles.) If you’re looking to join the hoppin’ trend, consider attending Lindy Diversion ($59 to $169), a weekend of Lindy Hop classes—plus blues dancing—from renowned instructors such as So You Think You Can Dance duo Evita Arce and Michael Jagger. Held in the Denver Performing Arts Complex’s Studio Loft, the Friday night sessions will focus on the fundamentals, like learning the difference between a mess around and apple jacks (don’t ask, just go). Classes progress to more advanced moves on Saturday and Sunday. If you haven’t mastered the tricky Charleston sequence by the end of the weekend, don’t fret. You can still revel in the knowledge that 100 percent of the proceeds go to Community-Minded Dance, a local nonprofit that provides dance and music education to schools in the Denver metro area.
February 11 — Powder Couple
In Colorado, there’s no better meet-cute than brushing arms with your future partner on a chairlift above wedding-gown-white slopes. Enter LuvByrd’s Chairlift Speed Dating (held at the fittingly named Loveland Ski Area), which promises adventurers a way to test out potential partners through lift-line conversations and side-by-side runs. At the end of the day, participants are rewarded with raffle prizes such as gear from Grass Sticks and Phunkshun Wear—and hopefully a date with a like-minded shredder.
February 18 — Display of Affection
Skip the overpriced bouquet this Valentine’s Day and make a more personal (and probably less expensive) arrangement yourself instead. Learn how in Lehrer’s Flowers’ design class ($40) on February 18.
February 19-20 — New Dogs, Old Tricks
Around 2,200 pooches will put their best paws forward at the Colorado Kennel Club’s 200th all-breed dog show. Known as the “Westminster of the Rockies,” the historic event judges pups on their conformation (as in, how well they conform to the breed’s exacting specifications). There are also agility and obedience contests for dogs that skew more tramp than lady.