On Saturday night I took my brother to his first dance performance.

It’s always an adventure figuring out what my brother wants to do when he comes for his annual visit. I try to find new things for him to do, but sometimes it seems he’s happy to spend time at places he’s enjoyed in previous years.

The main problem, though, is his politeness. He’ll agree to just about anything I propose.

Nevertheless, I invited my brother and my husband to the First Annual Mile High Dance Festival at the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Amphitheatre (20th Avenue and Park, just across the parking lot from Safeway).

The festival was titled “Celebrating Dances of the Americas” in keeping with the Biennial of the Americas that’s been happening in Denver in July. I’m not sure what troupe was performing here in this wide shot; we arrived about an hour into the show.

In between performances, I coaxed my two men over to the right side of the stage. They sat on the grass, while I tried to figure out how to photograph dance without using a flash. At first it was like a cartoon chase: I ran in front of some people to a planter. Then I crouched beside the planter and started firing away. There were no really fabulous angles with a 55 mm lens, from behind the stage or in front of it, and once again I wondered why I have yet to buy a zoom.

I loved the detail on the dresses and headgear sported by Grupo Folklorico Sabor Latino. If only I had captured the stage lights shining through these skirts and the details of the female dancers’ hairstyles. In all my no-flash shots, I got one but not the other.

But these dancers were so exuberant, I couldn’t help but love them the most.

Best of all, my brother seemed to like it. And no one got upset that I ran around for an hour taking pictures.