and drove downtown to watch the magical Nutcracker. Seeing the Sugar Plum fairy dance in her sparkling costume, floating through the snowflake-filled scenes. Tchaikovsky’s thrilling battles between the toy soldiers and the mischievous mice. However, not until we were inside the boardroom did we understand the effort, financial commitment and time required to execute such a production. During the economic crash of 2008, the Ballet barely stayed alive. A major performance was cut and dedicated employees took furloughs. Yet impressively, The Colorado Ballet never closed its doors to the more than 30 talented dancers, students and dance lovers who call the space home. A home that had made its mark in downtown Denver, amidst the walls of a rented space for twenty years. Yet on the heels of the new $45 million building for the Houston Ballet and the newly renovated $25 million historic landmark of the Kansas City Ballet, one thing became clear. Colorado – a state that proudly sets the bar for entertainment, outdoor activities and athletics – needed to find its beloved Ballet a proper new home. Late last year, a plan was set in motion. The Colorado Ballet acquired a 100-year old former sewing machine distribution shop off of Santa Fe Drive for $1.3 million. It would take an additional $5 million to clean and renovate the 30,000 square foot building so that it could house multiple ballet studios, a black box theatre and a place to support an 800-student academy. However, to get the building in full operating condition, a capital campaign was necessary. It hasn’t been easy. In December, we collectively sent out an email to our friends. A gentle nudge that Colorado Gives Day was approaching, and, as luck would have it, tickets to The Nutcracker were also on sale. One bluntly asked, “No offense, but why does the Ballet need money? There are so many causes in Denver who tend to the homeless or help people suffering with cancer.” True. There are more charities per capita in Colorado than any other city in the United States. And all of them promote critically important causes. But all too often the Ballet is pigeonholed into “just an arts organization.” We believe it is much more. With Artistic Director Gil Boggs at the helm, The Colorado Ballet is providing support to the Santa Fe Arts District – a neighborhood it won’t even occupy until this summer – in every way they can. The Ballet is even going so far as building out a wellness
platform for community members. What’s more, The Academy, an important arm of the Ballet, does more than just reach school age children and adults who take dance classes. Its “Be Beautiful, Be Yourself Dance Class” is the only one of its kind and is specifically tailored to children with Down syndrome. Envision both little boys and little girls in pink and blue tutus and leotards, plié-ing as an enthusiastic instructor encourages them. The ballet instructor is actually a physical therapist that has been educated to modify her guidance to this precious group. With this single class, The Colorado Ballet, in conjunction with the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, has become a national role model in dance therapies. And then there are the evocative performances that extend beyond the traditional. Last spring The Colorado Ballet chose the performance Light/
The Holocaust & Humanity Project, a tragic and emotional contemporary act, choreographed by Austin’s Stephen Hills. Boggs said it was a difficult endeavor for the dancers, as they had to “put themselves in the shoes of those who were subjugated.” The performance engaged more than 100 nonprofits and was applauded by dozens of corporate and city sponsors. The opening night was co-chaired by Denver Mayor Hancock and Colorado Governor Hickenlooper. All proof positive that The Colorado Ballet has found its much-deserved home. AUNA JORNAYVAZ AND MONICA OWENS BOTH SIT ON THE COLORADO BALLET’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES. AUNA IS A GRADUATE STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER. MONICA IS THE PRINCIPAL OWNER OF OWENS PUBLIC AFFAIRS. JOIN THEM AT THE COLORADO’S BALLET ANNUAL GALA ON APRIL 12TH, AUXILIARY BALLETTO DI GALA 2014. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT COLORADOBALLET.ORG.
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