Diversion 2026! One day only!
Registration Opens November 14, 2025!
The Pearl Denver
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Daytime dance workshops based in the roots of swing dancing exploring where African dance meets Lindy Hop with Connie Love & Cyle Dixon!
Evening dance with special Soul Train Basics class and then DJs in collaboration with Mile High Soul Club!
RSVP to our Facebook Event!
Like our Facebook Page! Diversion Weekend
Click “Register Now” to see all options!
BUT WAIT! Before you buy a pass to this one event, did you know you can get up to 50% off ALL of our events for 2026 by purchasing an annual pass?!! Check out your options by clicking HERE
If you do not wish to donate to the Donate-to-our-Schools fund, change the donation amount to 0.00
Please consider donating; this event serves as a fundraiser for cut funding this school year for our PreK-12 school dance programming! All proceeds go to the school programming this year.
Dancers at Diversion 2025
2026 Event Pricing
Registration Opens November 14, 2026!
Early Bird pricing until sold out (limited tickets available!):
The Whole Thing $99
Day Classes Only $75
Evening Only $25
Standard pricing until 2/19/25 @11:59pm:
The Whole Thing $109
Just the classes $80
Just the evening dance $30
At-the-door pricing on Saturday 2/21/26:
The Whole Thing $119
Just the classes $85
Soul Train Basics pre-evening dance class (7-8pm) $15
Just the dance $25 (8-midnight)
This event will serve as a fundraiser for our school programming this year! We are keeping prices as low as possible for Diversion this year to allow space for you to contribute to our PreK-12 School Dance Programming if you can! Many of our school program budgets were cut this year or canceled altogether, and we don't want to let those kids go without dance programming if we have anything to say about it!! We are focused on raising at least $1,000 that was cut from DSST: Cole High School's Dance Club program funding, and all other proceeds will go toward our other school programming.
Find our events on SwingPlanit, DanceCal, WhoFish, and WhereCanWeDanceConnie Love (Constance Harris)
Bio Here
Cyle Dixon
At 27 years old, Cyle Dixon is a proud Cleveland native and award-winning dancer who discovered his passion for artistic expression early in life. He often reflects on how he first learned to hear music from the soul while soul line dancing at barbecues and singing in church as a child. Cyle embarked on his dance journey at just thirteen, joining the Cleveland Junior Jitterbugs (CJJ). This formative experience ignited a lifelong love for Lindy Hop, inspiring him to compete in and explore various dance styles, as well as create choreography and soul line dances.
Cyle's dedication to his craft has taken him across the world , where he has showcased his talent at numerous events, including Frankie 100, BeanTown Dance Camp, Herrang Dance Camp, ILHC, and Camp Hollywood etc. As a teacher, his primary goal is to spread love and honor the rich legacy of the art form created by his ancestors or as he calls them “melanated legends and icons”. If there is one lesson he wishes to impart to every student, it would be: “Feel the beat of the music from the depths of your soul and let your creativity and individuality shine outward.”
DJed Evening Dance Music in Collaboration with Mile High Soul Club!
DJ 1
Bio
DJ 2
Bio
Saturday 2/21/2026
*all times and events are tentative and subject to change
Class Titles TBD
DJs TBD
Get your tix ASAP!
All classes will be upstairs in the ballroom at the Pearl on Saturday.
10:00am with Connie
Class Title: Class description
All Levels
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11:15am with Cyle
Class Title: Class description
Prerequisites: Should be proficient and have a repertoire of 6-count swing. Ideally, students should be able to move through 6 and 8 count swing steps.
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1:15pm with Connie & Cyle
Class Title: Class description
Prerequisites: Should know basic 8-count Swingout and Swingout variations.
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2:30pm with Chisomo & Cyle
Class Title: Class description
Prerequisites: Should know basic 8-count Swingout and Swingout variations.
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7:00pm with Connie
Soul Train Basics: Class description
All Levels: Note, this class will focus a lot on your internal sense of rhythm.
If you want to make a full dance weekend out of it you can add these dances onto Diversion Saturday:
—Thursday 2/19 - Shimmy Shakin’ Blues @ the Mercury Cafe $20 Live Music with the Maynard Mills Blues Band
—Friday 2/20 - Colorado Swing Dance Club @ the Turnverein $15 DJed Dance
—Sunday 2/22 - Swing Nights @ the Pearl Denver $15 Live Music
The Pearl Denver
2199 California St
Denver, CO 80205
Parking: There is free street parking on the surrounding streets, and a parking lot across the street starting at $4 for the night.
Nightly Bar in Ballroom
Flying Into Denver
The nearest major airport is the Denver International Airport (DIA). Check out these websites for deals on flights!
www.southwest.com – www.farecast.com – www.orbitz.com –www.kayak.com – www.priceline.com – www.hotwire.com –www.travelocity.com
Getting Around Denver
Rideshare programs like Uber or Lyft are highly active in Denver. We also have Car2GO, a convenient smart-car rental service providing over 400 2-person cars spread throughout Denver; just take it, drive it, and park it, within the designated city area (membership required). Scooters are also a popular form of travel for short distances. Downloading an app is required but choose from Bird, Lyft, Uber, and more!
RTD Buses – For public transportation, our RTD buses and light rail system are an effective and inexpensive method of getting around Denver. Check out the RTD website for a helpful Trip Planner and more details on Denver public transit.
Getting to Downtown Denver from DIA
The A-Line will get you from the DIA airport to Union Station (1.5 miles from the Studio Loft/Curtis Hotel) in approx 40 minutes. This is by far the most affordable and efficient way to get downtown from the airport. Ticket purchase required. All RTD Schedules
Announcements for scholarship applications and work trade “volunteers” will be posted here and on our social media accounts!
Important Notes on applications:
If you are applying for a volunteer/work trade position, do not purchase a pass until you have received a response.
Shift selection for work trade will happen in order of acceptance.
Those who do not show up for shifts will not be allowed to apply to events in the future.
Work-trade applications: Click here! (due 1/31/26 for Diversion)
If you have any questions about financial aid for this event, e-mail felicia@cmdance.org
Visiting and don’t know where to stay?
There are 3 hotels within walking (or scooting) distance of the main venue.
The closest and most affordable (5-minute walk): Day Inn by Wyndham - Downtown Denver
—Keep in mind this is on the famous Colfax strip and there will be city activity and traffic noise.
The second closest and still affordable (10-minute walk): The Warwick Hotel - Denver
—Worth the upgrade and longer “commute” for the fancy.
The third closest and still affordable (15-minute walk): The Hampton Inn & Suites - Denver Downtown
—Get your Hilton Honors points (or cash them in)!
Visit our Facebook Diversion Weekend page and look for the post to find roommates to share a space and the cost! Diversion Weekend Roomies
Check these links for Hotels & Airbnb & VRBO options near the The Pearl Denver (formerly the Mercury Cafe.)
There are some restaurants within walking distance of the Pearl, but first check out their food menu downstairs!
Diversion Team
CMDance Executive Director
Caryn Carrasco
Event Manager
Felicia Bode
Photography
William Weeks
Stone's Throw Productions is a highly rated photography studio founded and run by me, Will Weeks! I specialize in portraits, events, and branding photography. I have had the pleasure of working with many different brands, organizations and amazing people since starting this journey. I am passionate about telling stories through my photos, whether that be capturing a person's essence, giving a window into their personality, or saving once-in-a-lifetime memories for you to cherish forever. I am excited to be working with CM Dance again and will see you on the dance floor!