Meet Dawn Fay

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dawn Fay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dawn, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
A life in the arts is not without challenges, but as a dancer, that is the beauty of it. It can always be better and striving for that unachievable goal is the fuel that drives a dancer’s career. As the President of Wonderbound, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization, challenges are part of our existence. But all challenges prior to March 2020 pale in comparison to the ones brought on by COVID-19, which presented a whole new spectrum of unimaginable difficulties.

One of Wonderbound’s greatest organizational strengths is our agility, and so even during the Stay-At-Home order, we kept working. We produced 167 new dance films and tutorials that were completely free for anyone to watch on our website.

We are also proud to say that during the pandemic, we were one of only five dance companies in the country that produced live shows for in-person audiences. Throughout COVID-19, we did not conduct layoffs, furloughs, or staff/salary cuts. Wonderbound remained fully operational.

In addition, we built a new home for the organization. The challenges of labor shortages, supply chain issues, and skyrocketing prices were truly overwhelming. But in May 2023, we opened our new facility and theater.

In the words of Billie Jean King: “Pressure is a privilege.”

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Mission Statement: Wonderbound uses dance to deepen humankind’s common bond through uncommon endeavors of discovery and creation.

Comprised of 14 dancers from across the country, Wonderbound is committed to the development of innovative artistic experiences. Under the direction of Garrett Ammon and Dawn Fay, the organization develops original creations that rise to the highest levels of artistic excellence, hailed by audiences as equal to work seen on the nation’s most renowned stages.

Though Wonderbound is a small nonprofit, pay equity is a top priority. The organization is proud that all its employees are paid a living wage. Wonderbound also covers 95% of the cost of health insurance for all its employees. Wonderbound is one of the only dance companies in the country to uphold these standards.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Fun things to do and good restaurants in Denver would include:

The Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art
Casa Bonita
Botanic Gardens
Four Friends Kitchen
Trellis Wine Bar
Red Rocks
Union Station
Denver Art Museum
Root Down
Linger
True Food Kitchen
The Denver Astronomical Society public night
Lannie’s Clocktower Café
Tubing of Cherry Creek
A Wonderbound performance

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The Artistic Director of Wonderbound is a creative genius. He is responsible for all the art that we produce.

And he is my husband and the love of my life

Website: https://www.wonderbound.com/

Image Credits
Photos by Amanda Tipton and Martha Wirth