Night Of The Dancing Dead Brings Halloween Spectacle To The ­Federal Theatre

Bella Diva World Dance Production Features 67 Performers Representing 15 Countries

A Denver Halloween tradition more than a decade in the making will take the stage at a new home this October when Bella Diva World Dance presents “Night of the Dancing Dead” at the newly renovated Federal Theatre.

The annual production will be presented Sunday, October 25, at 7 p.m. at the Federal Theatre, 3830 Federal Blvd. in Denver. This year’s show will feature a cast of 67 performers representing 15 different countries in a multimedia celebration combining dance, music, theatrical performances, and plenty of Halloween spirit.

For Bella Diva World Dance owner Caitlin Brozna-Smith, the production’s growth from a relatively modest Halloween show into an annual Denver event has been remarkable.

“What started as a small spooky idea in 2012 at the Clocktower Cabaret has grown into a full-blown multimedia spectacle,” Broz­na-Smith said. “We had moved the production to the Oriental Theatre 2022-2025 and now will be going to the newly renovated Federal Theatre. It has been absolute magic and gives me so much joy year after year.”

The move to the Federal Theatre marks the latest chapter for a production that has continued to grow in both size and ambition. After beginning at the Clocktower Cabaret, Dancing Dead eventually outgrew its original setting and spent the past several years at the Oriental Theatre.

Now, the Federal Theatre provides a new stage for a show that Brozna-Smith hopes will continue establishing itself as part of Denver’s Halloween calendar. At the heart of the production is Bella Diva World Dance, which celebrates dance and cultures from around the world. That international influence will be particularly evident this year, with performers representing 15 countries.

But Brozna-Smith believes one of the qualities that makes Dancing Dead special is not simply the size or diversity of its cast, it is how long many of the performers have been part of the production.

“Something that makes our show so unique is the longevity and continuity of our cast, many of whom have been performing in ‘The Dancing Dead’ for over a decade,” Brozna-Smith said. “It creates a true ensemble feel and represents the dance family we are. This year’s cast will feature 67 performers from 15 different countries.”

That continuity has allowed Dancing Dead to evolve while retaining the sense of community that helped launch it in 2012. Performers who return year after year have watched the show grow alongside them, creating a production that is as much a reunion for the cast as it is a Halloween performance for the audience.

Brozna-Smith also credits co-producer and technical director Kyle Kastner and the entire cast with helping transform the original concept into the large-scale production it has become.

“I am endlessly proud of our entire cast and my co-producer/technical director, Kyle Kastner, for creating a Denver tradition that lights up the season,” she said.

Brozna-Smith has even bigger aspirations for Dancing Dead. Her goal is for the production to eventually become one of those events Denver-area residents associate automatically with October.

“I hope one day ‘The Dancing Dead’ will be a nostalgic Denver Halloween favorite on par with ‘Boo at the Zoo’ or the ‘Broadway Halloween Parade’ that families and friends make a point of celebrating together every year,” she said.

After 14 years, multiple venues and a cast that now numbers nearly 70 performers, the once “small spooky idea” appears well on its way.

Night of the Dancing Dead will be presented Sunday, October 25, at 7 p.m. at the Federal Theatre, 3830 Federal Blvd., Denver. Tickets are available online at www.thefederaltheatre.com.