Zikr Dance Ensemble Returns to Lakewood Cultural Center

In a few short days, Zikr Dance Ensemble will be performing at the Lakewood Cultural Center, bringing its world class dancers, awe-inspiring choreography, and thought-provoking multimedia presentations to one of their favorite Front Range venues for another consecutive season. The critically acclaimed, Littleton-based contemporary ballet company will be presenting their ambitious Spring 2026 Season production, RUNES, on April 11 at 7:30pm, showcasing the company’s roots while exploring the power and transformative energies of some of history’s most iconic symbols and the light code language of the future. While the company will be performing across Colorado and New Mexico through May 3, they will be in Lakewood for one-night only.  

Included in the production are two of Artistic Director David Taylor’s most powerful and transcendent works, “Runes” and “Light Codes”. A pillar of Colorado’s dance community for decades, Taylor has added new choreography to the newly restaged Light Codes, displaying his signature blend of technical precision and multi-media technology while honoring Zikr’s spiritual roots.  His stunning masterpiece and season namesake, Runes, has also been restaged and will feature company member Zac Bigbee’s breathtaking use of a cyr wheel.  

In addition, Zikr will reprise internationally acclaimed and world renowned Belgian/Moroccan choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s stunning “In Memoriam” pas de deux.  Set to music by A Filetta, the pas de deux will once again be danced by long-time company members Brandon Penn and Anaka Weiss-Jones, who also serves as Zikr’s Assistant Artistic Director.  Cherkaoui’s work has been celebrated for its multicultural approach and deeply narrative style. The collaboration marks a pivotal moment in Zikr’s growing significance in the contemporary dance space, as Zikr continues to be the only Colorado company with a Cherkaoui piece in their repertoire. 

Zikr will also be reprising Tomm Ruud’s iconic miniature masterpiece, “Mobile”. Originally choreographed in 1969 for San Francisco Ballet and last performed by Zikr in 2024, Mobile has been set on dozens of the nation’s major ballet companies, inspired the short film “Balances,” and has been called a marvel of dance engineering.  The program will close with “In Your Eyes”, Zikr’s signature work and audience favorite, and will be followed by a Q&A with Taylor and other company artists.    

Zikr’s singular artistic focus makes it totally unique among professional dance companies in the United States and Lakewood is fortunate to be one of the cities that will host them this Spring. Like all of Zikr’s productions, you can expect a stunning multimedia dance/theatre realization that will be artistically stimulating and intellectually captivating.  Tickets are on sale now.  Learn more at www.zikrdance.com.  You do not want to miss this one.