Colorado Gives Day is Taking Center Stage!
Established in 1961, Colorado Ballet is a non-profit organization celebrating 65 years of presenting world-class classical ballet and innovative dance in Colorado. Your donation to Colorado Ballet helps fund professional performances, training the next generation of artists, and making dance accessible to everyone and inclusive of all.
This Colorado Gives Day, we aim to raise $80,000 so we can share the transformative power of ballet and open the door to a world of movement, confidence, and inspiration. From now until December 31, your impact will be doubled up to $35,000, thanks to a matching gift opportunity made possible by Colorado Ballet’s Leadership Council.
Eight-year-old Kaia first saw Colorado Ballet perform Sleeping Beauty at a Student Matinee. She was so inspired that her school brought dance into the classroom—and today, she’s a scholarship student at Colorado Ballet Academy.
Studio Company Dancer Sarah Claire Martin was also introduced to ballet during a Student Matinee of Coppelia. She began dancing at the Academy at age seven and now performs in school assemblies, inspiring the next generation of dancers just as she was inspired as a young girl.
Ever Larson began training with the Academy’s Pre-Professional program as a teen and is now a Demi-Soloist Company dancer with Colorado Ballet.
"I asked my students on the way to Downtown Denver how many of them had ever been there before. Even though our school is only a short distance from the city, about 90% of them had never been downtown. I felt truly honored to be part of their first experience, and there’s no better introduction to the arts than at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. The ballet Dracula was the icing on the cake. The kids were absolutely awe-struck by the experience. They quickly realized that being a ballet artist is just one powerful way to share a story. Their initial impressions of the word “ballet” were completely rewired as they discovered new ways a story can be told, through movement, music, and emotion. Every student should have the opportunity to experience the magic of a live professional performance, whether it’s a play, an orchestra, or a ballet.
-Westlake Middle School teacher after the student matinee performance of Dracula
“The combinations of the music, dance, on-stage chorus for Carmina Burana, orchestra, sets, and costumes -- are world class. I've never had a dance performance move me so much. I said [to my friend] 'it is a privilege to be able to describe something like this, and then I cried."
-Audio describer Bonnie Barlow after previewing Ballet MasterWorks
“Thank you thank you thank you for doing this!!!! We have 3 boys with special needs, and this is the best way for us to attend without making it a painful experience for them. This would not have been possible for us without this being a special performance as well as the reduced pricing! Their special needs means I can’t work and all their therapies cost more than we can make as a one income household, I know that’s common in special need homes, so I truly thank you guys for this!!!!”
-Attendee after The Nutcracker with sensory- friendly adaptations
Colorado Ballet's mission is to present exceptional classical ballet and contemporary dance through performances, training, education and community engagement while inspiring and growing an increasingly diverse audience base.
1961 – Colorado Ballet is founded as a ballet school by Denver natives Freidann Parker and Lillian Covillo, then known as the Colorado Concert Ballet.
1961/1962 Season – Denver's first full-length production of The Nutcracker. The six performances of the holiday classic were completely sold out, ushering in a beloved tradition that has continued today.
2006 – The renovated Auditorium Theater reopened as the Ellie Caulkins Opera House and is today's primary performance venue for Colorado Ballet.
2006-2007 season – Gil Boggs began his tenure as Artistic Director of Colorado Ballet. During his 17-seasons, Colorado Ballet has added to its expansive repertoire and received some of the best critical reviews and ticket sales in its history. Under Gil's leadership, Colorado Ballet has grown into a world-class ballet company presenting more than 50 classical and contemporary performances. Moreover, six recent seasons achieved record-breaking ticket sales.
2014 – For the first time in its history, Colorado Ballet owned its home, The Armstrong Center for Dance. The 30,000 square foot state-of-the-art rehearsal and training facility now houses 36 professional Company dancers, 21 Studio Company dancers, 1,200 Academy students, and many community programs.
2016 – Colorado Ballet's The Nutcracker was named the best-loved Nutcracker in the 10th Annual Goldstar National Nutcracker Award contest, winning this coveted honor in a field that included more than 80 other productions throughout the U.S.
Present Day – As one of the oldest and most successful arts organizations in the region, Colorado Ballet continues to present world-class productions and its audience grows every year. The last four seasons have been the most successful in Colorado Ballet’s history, breaking both revenue and attendance records.
Organization name
Colorado Ballet
1961
Tax id (EIN)
84-6038137
Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities, Education
Organization Size
Large Organization
Colorado State Tax Credits
Colorado Enterprise Zone Credit
Address
1075 Santa Fe DriveDenver County, CO, US