An earthy, party, community, and arts-centered, fusion dance weekend in a small mountain community.
FB 2026 event page IS HERe
Buy your tickets for 2026 here!
Day Passes available for $75/day
Vision
Unbound is once again bringing a throwback weekend in its 18th year of Aspen Recess! It is a homage to the early days of Fusion dancing, partying all night around town, and cute, magical outdoor parties. This is a direct continuation of Aspen Blues Recess, founded by Justin Riley in 2007, and was one of the true birthplaces of the contemporary Fusion Dance community and dance.
This is an extended weekend event. Arrival starts at 4 pm on Thursday, with a pre-party scheduled for that evening. There will be dancing all weekend long, late into the night, with workshops, special events, and dancing throughout the day. We'll kick you out at Noon on Monday.
The event ticket includes camping. Come prepared to dance on all sorts of surfaces. The event will provide meals for those who buy a food ticket, and we ask that everyone volunteer for one shift to help the event happen.
This is a camping, community-led dance event in the Colorado mountains. Do not expect to be taken care of and come prepared to participate, contribute, and be aspirational.
Angel, the Recess bus will be driving from Nevada City, CA, out to Paonia, and is able to pick people up at the Salt Lake City airport if you would like a ride. Pricing and schedules are below in the Transport section.
This is an extended weekend event. Arrival starts at 4 pm on Thursday, with a pre-party scheduled for that evening. There will be dancing all weekend long, late into the night, with workshops, special events, and dancing throughout the day. We'll kick you out at Noon on Monday.
The event ticket includes camping. Come prepared to dance on all sorts of surfaces. The event will provide meals for those who buy a food ticket, and we ask that everyone volunteer for one shift to help the event happen.
This is a camping, community-led dance event in the Colorado mountains. Do not expect to be taken care of and come prepared to participate, contribute, and be aspirational.
Angel, the Recess bus will be driving from Nevada City, CA, out to Paonia, and is able to pick people up at the Salt Lake City airport if you would like a ride. Pricing and schedules are below in the Transport section.
The 2026 Schedule is Here!!!
Thursday
2 pm: Arrival and camp set up at Rain Crow Farm! 39405 Lund Rd, Paonia, CO 81428
Dinner at Rain Crow: 6:30 pm
Welcome Dance also at the Farm!: 9:30 pm -2:30 am
Friday
10 am Brunch at Rain Crow Farm
11:30 Skill shares and classes at Rain Crow
Afternoon Classes at The Blue Sage Center For The Arts
2:15 pm- 3:15 pm: Dance Class! TBA
3:45 pm - 5:00pm: Justin's Class: TBA
6:30 pm: Dinner served upstairs in The Blue Sage Apartment
Main Dance: Blue Sage Center For The Arts
8 - 8:30pm: Dance Workshop: All Levels!
8:30pm - 1am: Main Dance
1:30am - 4am: Late Night Dance at the upstairs Blue Sage Apartment
Saturday
10:30am Brunch
Skill Share and Classes at Rain Crow Farm
Farm work and river time!!!
Main Dance: Renegade Pop-up at THIS DROPPED PIN LOCATION.
8 pm: Mountain Sunset Picnic at the above dropped PIN
10:30pm - 2:00am: Renegade Pop-up off Stevens Gulch at above linked location.
2:00 pm - 6 am: Late-night dance at the upstairs Blue Sage Apartment
Sunday
11am: Brunch at Rain Crow Farm
Daytime Skill Shares at Rain Crow Farm
6:30pm: Dinner at Rain Crow Farm
Main Dance: 8pm - 11pm TBA
11:30pm - 5 am: It's our last day! We stay home and party all night at the farm!
Monday morning breakfast is set out as a grab-and-go. Load-up, pack-up, clean-up, and goodbye!
2 pm: Arrival and camp set up at Rain Crow Farm! 39405 Lund Rd, Paonia, CO 81428
Dinner at Rain Crow: 6:30 pm
Welcome Dance also at the Farm!: 9:30 pm -2:30 am
Friday
10 am Brunch at Rain Crow Farm
11:30 Skill shares and classes at Rain Crow
Afternoon Classes at The Blue Sage Center For The Arts
2:15 pm- 3:15 pm: Dance Class! TBA
3:45 pm - 5:00pm: Justin's Class: TBA
6:30 pm: Dinner served upstairs in The Blue Sage Apartment
Main Dance: Blue Sage Center For The Arts
8 - 8:30pm: Dance Workshop: All Levels!
8:30pm - 1am: Main Dance
1:30am - 4am: Late Night Dance at the upstairs Blue Sage Apartment
Saturday
10:30am Brunch
Skill Share and Classes at Rain Crow Farm
Farm work and river time!!!
Main Dance: Renegade Pop-up at THIS DROPPED PIN LOCATION.
8 pm: Mountain Sunset Picnic at the above dropped PIN
10:30pm - 2:00am: Renegade Pop-up off Stevens Gulch at above linked location.
2:00 pm - 6 am: Late-night dance at the upstairs Blue Sage Apartment
Sunday
11am: Brunch at Rain Crow Farm
Daytime Skill Shares at Rain Crow Farm
6:30pm: Dinner at Rain Crow Farm
Main Dance: 8pm - 11pm TBA
11:30pm - 5 am: It's our last day! We stay home and party all night at the farm!
Monday morning breakfast is set out as a grab-and-go. Load-up, pack-up, clean-up, and goodbye!
Details
- Cost: Full event ticket pricing is a sliding scale, starting at $155 for low-income tickets. Food tickets are $75 for the duration of the event, and some limited more luxury stay option are TBA. TICKET TIERS WILL SELL OUT.
- Scholarship tickets: Scholarship Tickets are available. Go through the normal online registration to fill out our scholarship application for a discounted ticket.
- COVID PROTOCOL: There are currently no COVID-related requirements.
- Camping and Event Main Location: A tent campsite is included with event registration. Location TBA.
- Cabins/Glamping: Included event camping will be in designated areas at Rain Crow Farm! Access to outdoor facilities and the river! There may be some less rustic lodging options in Paonia, possibly even some rooms available at Elsewhere or the Blue Sage Apartment. Inquire for additional options.
- Dogs: Well-behaved dogs that are good at being off-leash with people, children, and other dogs are welcome. Owners are 100% responsible for the behavior of their dogs.
Food
All food will be provided for all registrants who purchase a food ticket during registration ($75). All meals will be gluten-free and have vegan options. During registration, you will be asked for additional food restrictions, and we will do our best to accommodate you. We suggest that the more food restrictions you have, the more "backup" personal food you bring. Cuz, why not be the one taking responsibility?
In The Know
What is the camping space like?:
We're back at Rain Crow Farm this year! Camping will be in trees on mowed grass, or out in more open field space (also mowed grass), all near the river!!! There will be outdoor showers, compost toilets, easy river access, and limited access to some inside aspects of the main farmhouse (ONLY ON REQUEST! Indoor bathrooms if needed, kitchen, quiet space.) We will be living, dancing, and eating here!
Weather to expect
Expect sunny and warm days, and cooler but pleasant nights. Bring warm dance clothes!
Driving, Bus Rides, Designated Drivers' planning
Our late-night venues will often be off-site of where we are camping. Plan ahead with your rides and plan a designated driver. We will also shuttle people to the party at the start and afterwards with Angel the Recess Unbound Bus.
Daytime Skill Shares
After Brunch, there is space for community skill shares to be offered. Offerings range from sponsored adventures in the area to workshops and classes. Sign up on the Skill share board and announce them during breakfast announcements.
Being plugged in by being present at meal time announcements
These events run and operate through the fact that we gather and eat together. At the end of each meal we will have short announcements to plug everyone into the happenings of the day. Be present for meals, or prepare to feel a little "out of the loop."
The Event's Hot-Mess WhatsApp thread
Get connected to the Hot Mess thread and post anything and everything (link provided after registration!). Fun side-adventures to swim, questions about real things, questions about stupid things, missed connections, all the stuff!
We're back at Rain Crow Farm this year! Camping will be in trees on mowed grass, or out in more open field space (also mowed grass), all near the river!!! There will be outdoor showers, compost toilets, easy river access, and limited access to some inside aspects of the main farmhouse (ONLY ON REQUEST! Indoor bathrooms if needed, kitchen, quiet space.) We will be living, dancing, and eating here!
Weather to expect
Expect sunny and warm days, and cooler but pleasant nights. Bring warm dance clothes!
Driving, Bus Rides, Designated Drivers' planning
Our late-night venues will often be off-site of where we are camping. Plan ahead with your rides and plan a designated driver. We will also shuttle people to the party at the start and afterwards with Angel the Recess Unbound Bus.
Daytime Skill Shares
After Brunch, there is space for community skill shares to be offered. Offerings range from sponsored adventures in the area to workshops and classes. Sign up on the Skill share board and announce them during breakfast announcements.
Being plugged in by being present at meal time announcements
These events run and operate through the fact that we gather and eat together. At the end of each meal we will have short announcements to plug everyone into the happenings of the day. Be present for meals, or prepare to feel a little "out of the loop."
The Event's Hot-Mess WhatsApp thread
Get connected to the Hot Mess thread and post anything and everything (link provided after registration!). Fun side-adventures to swim, questions about real things, questions about stupid things, missed connections, all the stuff!
2026 Transport To & From other places and other dance events
Post on the FB event page to coordinate ride-share opportunities and join the Whatsapp Hot Mess Thread! to get plugged in, find rides, and get questions about the event answered. (Link provided after registration)
Angel the Bus will be traveling from Gold Country Fusion in Nevada City, CA, to the event and offering rides. Below are the gas contributions amounts we ask for each leg of the trip.
Angel the Bus will be traveling from Gold Country Fusion in Nevada City, CA, to the event and offering rides. Below are the gas contributions amounts we ask for each leg of the trip.
- Nevada City, CA: Tuesday, July 7th, 2pm. - going to Paonia, CO, for Western Slope Getdown ($55)
- Salt Lake City, Airport: Wednesday, July 8th, 2pm. - going to Western Slope Getdown ($35)
Community Guideline
Recess Unbound events are by design aspirational and challenging
We have a high expectation for everyone to be responsible for themselves and the people they care about in the space. If you need support, turn to your friends and the people around you.
The event will have a loose structure to help you access support networks and resources.
If you think you might have higher needs at this event, we suggest you find an event buddy or anchor person to attend and provide physical, social and emotional support during the event.
We encourage you to choose an anchor person for yourselves in every community space – it’s always a good idea!
Every event will have an accessibility statement in the website description that will detail the physical limitations of the space. If you have specific questions, reach out to Justin Riley.
We acknowledge that our events are not accessible to all bodies.
We have a high expectation for everyone to be responsible for themselves and the people they care about in the space. If you need support, turn to your friends and the people around you.
The event will have a loose structure to help you access support networks and resources.
If you think you might have higher needs at this event, we suggest you find an event buddy or anchor person to attend and provide physical, social and emotional support during the event.
We encourage you to choose an anchor person for yourselves in every community space – it’s always a good idea!
Every event will have an accessibility statement in the website description that will detail the physical limitations of the space. If you have specific questions, reach out to Justin Riley.
We acknowledge that our events are not accessible to all bodies.
Refund Policy
Refunds will be available for a $50 administrative fee up until the Thursday, one week before, the event. Tickets can be transferred to a different name at no cost. To transfer a ticket, you only need to arrive at on-site registration with an email sent from the original ticket buyer stating that the their ticket has been transferred to the new name.
Accessibility Statement
This event has a medium to low requirement for self responsibility, self care, and physical ability. If you are camping, basic familiarity with camping skills are necessary such as setting-up and striking your personal tent. On Site Glamping and Cabin spaces as well as local AirBnb and Hotel Options are available otherwise. Some event sponsored party spaces may require short hikes by headlamp. There is no Verizon cell service in Paonia, other cell providers seem to work well. Power hook ups, running water, flush toilets and shower rooms are available at the camping space. This event requires the ability to say "yes" to the unexpected. As well as the ability to take self responsibility for one's well being and actions.
More Info
This More Info linked page has the following information.
- Ticket Pricing Structure
- Refund Policy
- Ticket Transfers
- Volunteerism
- Community Guidelines
- About Recess Unbound
- Skillshares!
- Daily Meal Times:
- Using The Event FB Page to connect
- Photography at these events
- The History of Recess can be found here.