The Denver Turnverein, a beloved nonprofit dance hall on North Clarkson in Capitol Hill, has been shuttered after an electrical fire broke out earlier this month. The historic building, which has welcomed ballroom, country partner, and swing dancers since 1921, suffered extensive smoke damage and will need a thorough cleanup and remodel before its doors can reopen.
Community at the heart of the Turnverein
“Old wiring in an old building,” explained Tarasa Harlow, the hall’s general manager, who has been with the Turnverein for four years. “We’re currently in the process of smoke removal and cleaning, but that’ll take some time before we can get that finished and then we will start the remodel of the areas that need to be fixed.”
Harlow emphasized that the Turnverein’s true value lies in the community it has fostered. “Long before the fire, I was very aware that the community is what makes the space. We have regulars that have been coming for 25 years or longer,” she said. “I’ve had people meet at the Turnverein and then bring their kids in. Watching full‑circle moments from meeting to getting married to having children is kind of crazy. So it’s a really big community and that’s been the hardest part, seeing people every day to just not seeing them anymore.”
Fundraising effort launched
To bridge the gap left by insurance, the Turnverein has opened a GoFundMe campaign. The fundraiser aims to raise $55,000 for repairs and to support the hall’s ten employees, many of whom cannot work from home. As of Thursday, the campaign had collected $33,000.
“Some of them can continue to work from home, but the majority of them, like my bartenders and my parking attendants and my desk people, can’t work, and it’s just not the economy for resting and waiting,” Harlow explained. “So we want to get them paid and keep them paid through this.”
Classes pause, but partners adapt
While the Turnverein’s own classes are on hold, several clubs that share the space are arranging lessons at alternate locations. Information about these temporary venues is posted on each club’s website.
The closure evokes memories of the pandemic, when the hall was closed for over a year and survived thanks to grants and loans. The community’s resilience remains a hopeful sign that the Turnverein will once again become a hub for dance and fellowship.
Personal stories highlight the hall’s impact
Colorado Public Radio producer Mateo Schimpf spent six weeks rehearsing in the Turnverein’s basement for his wedding, praising instructor Jen Vestal for her patience and guidance. “She encouraged us to see it from the other person’s perspective,” Schimpf recalled, adding that the lessons felt like a therapeutic experience as well as a dance class.
Southern Colorado reporter Dan Boyce, a regular attendee, described the Turnverein as the centerpiece of Denver’s renowned Argentine tango scene. “There’s a timeless elegance to that space. You want to dress up, mind your manners, sip cocktails and dance the night away like it’s the 1920s,” he said. “Having it out of commission is a tremendous loss to the dance community.”
Looking ahead
Harlow remains optimistic that the Turnverein will soon reopen. “I don’t like not being in the building as much as everybody else doesn’t like being in the building,” she said. “I promise, the minute I can open those doors, I will.”
Original reporting: Denverite — read the source article.
