Colorado Ballet

Colorado Ballet
General information
Name Colorado Ballet
Previous names Colorado Concert Ballet
Year founded 1961
Founders Freidann Parker and Lillian Covillo
Principal venue Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Website coloradoballet.org
Artistic staff
Artistic Director Gil Boggs
Ballet Mistress Sandra Brown and Lorita Travaglia
Music Director Adam Flatt
Other
Orchestra Colorado Ballet Orchestra
Official school Colorado Ballet Academy
Associated schools Colorado Ballet Academy

Colorado Ballet encompasses a 30 member professional performing ballet company, a studio company for advanced dance students, an Academy, and an education and outreach department. Based in downtown Denver, Colorado, Colorado Ballet serves more than 100,000 patrons each year.

The professional company performs primarily at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in the Denver Performing Arts Complex and one show each year at the Robert and Judi Newman Center for Performing Arts at the University of Denver. Colorado Ballet performs classical ballets and contemporary works. The Colorado Ballet Orchestra performs with the Company at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, either at three or four productions a year.

With an annual operating budget exceeding $6.6 million, the company is the single largest presenter of dance in the Rocky Mountain region, employing more than 150 people on either a full-time or part-time basis during the year.

Colorado Ballet received the 2009 Colorado Masterpieces Award. As part of the award, Colorado Ballet toured Colorado in the 2009–2010 season as a part of American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius initiative, funded by the Colorado Council on the Arts.[1]

During the 2010-2011, Colorado Ballet celebrated its 50th anniversary.

In 2013, Colorado Ballet purchased a building in Denver's Art District on Santa Fe. The company moved to its new location in August 2014.[2]

History

In 1961, Lillian Covillo and Freidann Parker established Colorado Concert Ballet to showcase talented students they had been teaching at their ballet school. Their first production, The Nutcracker, played to sold-out houses in Denver's Bonfils Theatre. By 1978, Colorado Concert Ballet employed 16 men and women, and had achieved full professional status. The board increased the annual budget to $100,000 and refined the company’s name. In doing so, Colorado Ballet was born. In 1987 Parker and Covillo conducted a nationwide search, at their own expense, for a new artistic director. With their choice of Martin Fredmann, they changed the course of Colorado Ballet.[3]

In the late 1980s, a lagging economy in Denver forced Colorado Ballet to look at an emerging national trend among dance companies and as a result entered into an alliance with Tampa Ballet. Through shared expenses, the alliance enabled the companies to develop an excellent artistic product with reduced financial risk. By 1990, Colorado Ballet achieved greater financial stability and community recognition, so the alliance was discontinued to better enable future growth of the Denver company. The decision reestablished Colorado Ballet as a resident company.

For eighteen years, the company grew to a well-respected regional ballet company recognized for its broad ranging repertoire. In March 2006, Gil Boggs, former principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, was hired as the new artistic director.

In June 2012, Colorado Ballet performed at the Gotham Dance Festival at The Joyce Theater in New York City, NY.

Artistic leaders

The artistic leadership of the Colorado Ballet includes (as of 2014-2015 season):

Artistic Director: Gil Boggs, former principal dancer of American Ballet Theatre

Ballet Mistresses: Lorita Travaglia, Sandra Brown

Music Director/Principal Conductor: Adam Flatt

Associate Conductor: Catherine Sailer

Company Pianist: Natalia Arefieva

Academy Director: Valerie Madonia

Dancers

Colorado Ballet consists of 30 professional dancers from around the world (as of 2015-2016 season):[4]

Principal dancers

Soloists

Corps de Ballet

Studio Company

The Studio Company is a pre-professional training program; members are selected by audition. The program is designed to offer young dancers training and experience working with the professional company.

2015–2016 season

Colorado Ballet's 2015-2016 season opened on October 2, 2015.[5]

La Sylphide (choreography by August Bournonville, music by Herman Severin Løvenskiold)

The Nutcracker (choreography after Marius Petipa, music by P.I. Tchaikovsky)

Alice in Wonderland (choreography by Septime Webre, music by Matthew Pierce)

Ballet Director's Choice (includes The Angel of Buenos Aires by Lorita Travaglia, Wolfgang by Dominic Walsh and a third contemporary work)

2014–2015 season

Colorado Ballet's 2014-2015 season opened on September 26, 2014.[6]

A Midsummer Night's Dream (choreography by Christopher Wheeldon, music by Felix Mendelssohn)

Dracula (choreography by Michael Pink, music by Philip Feeney)

The Nutcracker (choreography after Marius Petipa, music by P.I. Tchaikovsky)

Ballet MasterWorks (includes Concerto Barocco choreographed by George Balanchine, music by Johann Sebastian Bach; Fancy Free (ballet) choreographed by Jerome Robbins, music by Leonard Bernstein; and a new work)

Peter and the Wolf (choreography by Michael Smuin, music by Sergei Prokofiev, opening with Bruch Violin Concerto No.1 choreographed by Clark Tippet, music by Max Bruch)

2013–2014 season

Giselle (music by Adolphe Adam)

The Nutcracker (music by P.I. Tchaikovsky)

Cinderella (music by Prokofiev)

Director's Choice (Traveling Alone choreographed by Amy Seiwert; Edwaard Liang’s Feast of the Gods; and a new work)

2012–2013 season

The Sleeping Beauty (choreographed by Marius Petipa, music by P.I. Tchaikovsky)

The Nutcracker (music by P.I. Tchaikovsky)

Ballet MasterWorks (includes Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring with choreography by Glen Tetley, George Balanchine's Theme and Variations with music by P.I. Tchaikovsky, and a new work by Val Caniparoli of San Francisco Ballet

Light/The Holocaust and Humanity Project (choreography by Stephen Mills of Ballet Austin)

2011–2012 season

Swan Lake (choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, music by P.I. Tchaikovsky)

The Nutcracker (music by P.I. Tchaikovsky)

Peter Pan (choreography by Michael Pink, music by Philip Feeney)

Tribute (choreography by Emery LeCrone, Jodie Gates and Amy Seiwert)

2010–2011 season

Anniversary Triple Bill (Feast of the Gods - choreography by Edwaard Liang, “…smile with my heart” - choreography by Lar Lubovitch and The Faraway - choreography by Matthew Neenan)

Dracula (choreography by Michael Pink, music by Philip Feeney)

The Nutcracker (music by P.I. Tchaikovsky)

Romeo and Juliet (choreography by Alun Jones)

2009–2010 season

Great Galloping Gottschalk (choreographed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett, music by Louis Moreau Gottschalk)

Rodeo (choreographed by Agnes DeMille, music by A. Copland)

Don Quixote (choreographed by Marius Petipa, music by Ludwig Minkus)

The Nutcracker (music by P.I. Tchaikovsky)

Beauty and the Beast (choreographed by Domy Reiter-Soffer, music by Seen-yee Lam)

Echoing of Trumpets (choreographed by Antony Tudor)

Celts (choreographed by Lila York)

Repertoire

Since 1961, The Nutcracker has been in the Colorado Ballet's repertoire every holiday season. Although primarily a classical ballet company, the Company's repertoire ranges from classical to contemporary ballets.[7]

Ballet Choreographer Composer
"...smile with my heart" L. Lubovitch M. Laird (Fantasie on Themes by R. Rodgers)
Afternoon of a Faun V. Nijinsky, staged by I. Youskevitch C. Debussy
Among Silken Cords L. Wymmer W.A. Mozart
Apollo G. Balanchine, staged by P.Neary I. Stravinsky
Appalachian Spring M. Graham, staged by T. Capuccilli, J. Herring, J. Eibler A. Copland
Archetypes E. LeCrone T. Riley
Ave Maria D. Rhoden Giulio Caccini, vocals by Kagen Paley
A Little Love M. Fredmann Songs sung by Nina Simone
Beauty and the Beast M. Fredmann M. Ravel
Billy the Kid E. Loring, staged by H. Sayette A. Copland
Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 C. Tippet M. Bruch
Buffalo Bill's Saloon A. Erb R. Jarboe, performed by Tim and Molly O'Brien
Carmina Burana G. Gonzales, P. Renzetti, J. Wallace C. Orff
Celts L. York Traditional Irish music
Centennial Suite M. Fredmann R. Thompson
Cinderella (3 Acts) M. Fredmann S. Prokofiev
Company B P. Taylor, staged by R. Andrien Songs recorded by The Andrews Sisters
Concerto Barocco G. Balanchine, staged by P. Neary J.S. Bach
Configurations C. Goh, staged by J. Schergen S. Barber
Coppélia M. Fredmann L. Delibes
Cry and Silence M. Murdmaa K. Sink
Diana and Actaeon (pas de deux) A. Vaganova C. Pugni
De Profundis J. Lang Arvo Pärt
Don Quixote (3 Acts) M. Petipa/ A. Gorsky L. Minkus
Dracula M. Pink P. Feeney
Dreamspace M. Fredmann G. Mahler, W. Piston, H. Hanson, C. Ives, S. Coleridge-Taylor, A. Hovhaness
The Dying Swan M. Fokine, staged by N. Krassovska C. Saint-Saens
Earth Tribe R. Harris D. Ross; Romanthony
Echoing of Trumpets A. Tudor B. Martinu
Elysium T. Korobeynikova Meredith Monk and Kronos Quartet
Embellish Jodie Gates Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Façade F. Ashton, staged by A. Grant W. Walton
Feast of the Gods E. Liang O. Respighi
Flames of Paris (solo) J. Lang R. Schumann
Giselle (2 Acts) J. Perrot/J. Coralli, staged by Gil Boggs A. Adam
Great Galloping Gottschalk Lynne Taylor-Corbett, staged by Jeff Gribler Louis Moreau Gottschalk
The Hunchback of Notre Dame T. Ishida C. Pugni
The Hunchback of Notre Dame M. Pink P. Feeney
In the Upper Room T. Tharp, staged by S. Washington P. Glass
Inversion J. Wallace S. Barber
JamNation D. McKayle C. Dobrian, K. Akagi, L. Armstrong, C. Parker, D. Ellington, A.C. Jobin, D. Reinhart, S. Grapelli, J. Johnson
La Bayadere (Act II) M. Petipa, staged by M. Stavitskaya L. Minkus
Land Beyond Horizons H. Garza T. Bell
La Sylphide A. Bournonville, staged by Z. Dubrovskaya, S. Kozadeyev H. Lovenskjold
La Vivandiere A. Saint-Leon, staged by P. Renzetti C. Pugni
Le Beau Danube L. Massine, staged by G. Verdak J. Strauss II
Le Spectre de la Rose M. Fokine, staged by T. Armour C. Von Weber
Light/The Holocaust & Humanity Project Stephen Mills Steve Reich (Tehillim), Evelyn Glennie (Rhythm Song), Michael Gordon (Weather), Arvo Pärt (Tabula Rasa), Philip Glass (Tirol Concerto)
Masquerade Suite M. Fredmann A. Khatchaturian
A Midsummer Night's Dream C. Wheeldon F. Mendlessohn
Miraculous Mandarin S. Kozadayev B. Bartok
Mon Dieu (solo) M. Fredmann Sung by Edith Piaf
Nine Sinatra Songs T. Tharp, staged by S. Washington Songs recorded by F. Sinatra
The Nutcracker (2 Acts) M. Fredmann P.I. Tchaikovsky
Of Blessed Memory S. Welch J. Cantaloube
Picture of Sedalia P. Pucci S. Joplin
Peter Pan G. Conzales/ A. Thompson L. Delibes
Peter Pan Michael Pink P. Feeney
Pounds and Stomps D. Varone Songs by the Yardbirds
Rachmaninov Second K. Uralsky S. Rachmaninov
Raymonda (Act III) M. Petipa, staged by M. Stavitskaya A. Glazunov
Ricordanza M. Fredmann F. Liszt
The Rite of Spring Glen Tetley Igor Stravinsky
Talisman (pas de deux) M. Petipa R. Drigo
Theme and Variations George Balanchine P.I. Tchaikovsky
Things Left Unsaid A. Seiwert F. Mendelson
The River A. Ailey, staged by M. Chaya D. Ellington
Rodeo A. de Mille, staged by P. Sutherland A. Copland
Romeo & Juliet (3 Acts) M. Fredmann S. Prokofiev
Rubies G. Balanchine, staged by B. Cook I. Stravinsky
Sachertorte M. Fredmann Strauss Family
Second Exposure D. Grand Moultrie R. Romaneiro
Serenade G. Balanchine, staged by P. Neary P.I. Tchaikovsky
Silent Woods (pas de deux) M. Fredmann A. Dvorak
The Sleeping Beauty Marius Petipa, staged by M. Daukayev, J. Labsan P.I. Tchaikovsky
Size Nine Spirit P. Pucci B. Goodman
Soul of Porcelain O. Messina P.I. Tchaikovsky
Stars and Stripes G. Balanchine, staged by B. Cook J.P. Sousa
Swan Lake (4 Acts) M. Petipa/L. Ivanov, staged by S. Kozadayev, Z. Dubroskaya, A. McKerrow, & J. Gardner P.I. Tchaikovsky
Traveling Alone A. Seiwert M. Richter
Theme and Variations G. Balanchine, staged by P. Neary P.I. Tchaikovsky
Troy Game R. North, staged by J. Moss B. Downes
Vital Sensations D. Moultrie Puente, Sidestepper, R. Size/ Reprazent
Western Symphony G. Balanchine, staged by B. Cook H. Kay
When the Lad for Longing Sighs M. Fredmann, J. Levinson G. Butterworth
Where the Wild Things Are S. Webre R. Woolf
Who Cares? G. Balanchine, staged by J. Fugate G. Gershwin
Wingborne L. Houlton A. Dvorak
Winter Moons P. Tate J. Tate
Without Words T. Shimazaki T. Kako, R. Eno, L.M. Gottschalk, F. Mendlessohn
Yes, Virginia, Another Piano Ballet P. Anastos F. Chopin

Academy

Colorado Ballet Academy provides training to students age 3 through adult, beginner through professional. The Academy offers a children’s program, pre-professional trainee program and adult and teen open program.

The children's program includes various dance classes for ages two to 10 in creative movement, ballet, tap and more. Students in the children’s program study a variety of dance concepts while working on spatial awareness, problems solving and strengthening the body and brain. Students must be invited to join the pre-professional trainee program and must meet the minimum standards regarding pointe work (for girls) and the physicality generally considered necessary for professional success in classical ballet. In addition to the children’s classes and the pre-professional classes, the Academy offers an adult and teen open program for ages 18 and up, with classes for various skill levels in ballet, tap and modern dance.

Academy students perform in showcase performances as well as Colorado Ballet's professional ballets, including the annual productions of The Nutcracker. The Academy is located in downtown Denver.

Education and outreach

Colorado Ballet's Department of Education & Outreach serves in-need students, teachers, families, people with disabilities and lifelong learners in Colorado. In its 12 years, Education & Outreach has made over 600,000 contacts with individuals in more than 23 Colorado counties.

Education & Outreach Includes:

Programs

Be Beautiful Be Yourself - Based on Boston Ballet’s “Adaptive Dance” program and supported by the Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome at Children’s Hospital Colorado and the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Dance program provides 10 weekly dance classes to ten 5-9 year-old-children with Down syndrome.

5 x 5 Project - The 5 X 5 Project is the Mayor's Office for Education and Children's program designed to offer Head Start families opportunities to give their children five cultural experiences by the age of five. Colorado Ballet has been a partnering organization in this program for four years.

Dance Renaissance - Dance Renaissance is an after school residency that lasts 10–15 weeks, classes focus on creative movement and ballet. The students study a variety of dance concepts while working on spatial awareness, problem solving, and strengthening the body and brain. The program culminates with a performance for the parents, school, and community.

Rhythm and Grace - Rhythm & Grace is an adaptation of the nationally recognized Dance for PD® model created by the Mark Morris Dance Group and the Brooklyn Parkinson Group. This national model is offered in more than 40 communities in the U.S. and Europe. The Parkinson Association of the Rockies is the first Parkinson’s-oriented Colorado organization to bring this dance-focused method of physical therapy to the Denver community. Since its inception in September 2011, approximately 50 individuals with Parkinson’s disease have participated in the program.

School workshops, assemblies and field trips - Colorado Ballet's education and outreach department offers school workshops and assemblies teaching students about dance. In addition, the department offers students discounted tickets to the professional Company's final dress rehearsal for selected shows each season.

References

  1. ↑ Colorado Council of the Arts Press Release
  2. ↑ Denver Post - Colorado Ballet's new home, sunny and full of possibilities
  3. ↑ "Colorado Ballet History".
  4. ↑ "Dancers". Colorado Ballet. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Colorado Ballet Announces 2015-2016 Season".
  6. ↑ "Colorado Ballet Announces 2014-2015 Season, adds special Halloween production".
  7. ↑ "Colorado Ballet Repertoire". Retrieved 13 April 2012.

External links

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