About the Boulder Ballet The origins of Boulder Ballet begin with the Ballet Arts Studio, founded by former American Ballet Theatre dancer Larry Boyette and British dancer Barbara Demaree. The first performing company, Boulder City Ballet, was founded in 1982 by Barbara Demaree and Wanda Tierney. In 1985 the company changed its name to Boulder Ballet Ensemble, and in 1995 to Boulder Ballet. Since 1989, Boulder Ballet has enjoyed a partnership with the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra in presenting classical ballets complete with professional scenery, costumes, lighting designs, and casts of up to 100 dancers. The Boulder Ballet Company has grown and flourished with its community for 30 years. Our rich history of bringing classic, contemporary, and uniquely theatrical ballet to an audience that stretches from Estes Park to Highlands Ranch is enjoyed by those attending. Barbara Demaree who saw the West as open, inviting, and eager to embrace the arts, planted the seed of classic Western European Ballet amidst the beauty of the American West. Boulder Ballet is the result of the community’s nurturing of that seed, having embedded deep roots and grown to new heights. The regional company has had a number of strong influences including the versatile artistry of Milenko Banovich (Zagred Ballet), Robin Haig (Royal Ballet), and John Prinz (American Ballet Theatre). Artistic Directors for the past nine years, Ana Claire and Peter Davison have continued to build on the proud tradition of artistic excellence through innovation. They have challenged their dancers and enlightened their audiences with the versatile productions from the contemporary Stepping Out, to the classic The Nutcracker, to the timeless tale of Cinderella. Peter Davison’s own creative choreography is a mesmerizing synergy of dancers and unusual props. Peter’s innovation was recognized with the 2009 New York Ballet Builders Award, which resulted in Boulder Ballet’s New York premiere of his critically acclaimed Cirque D’Amour. With a profound respect for their art, the duo has expanded and refined the company’s season to over 20 performances reaching over 20,000 in the Denver Metro area and beyond. The Boulder Ballet School (BBS) provides ballet training for all ages, pre-school through adult, in a uniquely artistic and creative atmosphere. As a professional-track ballet school BBS challenges students dedicated to pursuing dance as a career, but also welcomes those who dance purely for enjoyment. The Director of the Boulder Ballet School since 1999, Ana Claire has successfully recruited an outstanding faculty with international performing and teaching experience. The seven-level curriculum is designed to produce well-rounded artists who achieve not only technical proficiency but also an essential expressive quality in their dancing. To achieve this, the classical ballet technique is augmented with modern dance, character dance, and physical theater. Such comprehensive training prepares students for the many artistic challenges demanded of professional dancers. A particularly unique feature of the school is the largest dance program in the region developed specifically for boys. Geared towards ages seven & above, this program includes Boyz Dance – a unique mix of dance, mime and juggling – and Boys Ballet which focuses specifically on the male classical technique. Our students have excelled in a number of competitions including the world’s largest, the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), where BBS students have won first-place awards and the regional Grand Prix (single highest award) and have been invited to perform in New York City among the world’s finest young dancers. Former Boulder Ballet School students have gone on to dance with world-class companies throughout the world including American Ballet Theatre, Ballet British Columbia, Hubbard Street Dance, Mark Morris Dance Group, Miami City Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet, England’s Royal Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet, to name a few. Boulder Ballet classes are held in our three spacious studios at the Dairy Center for the Arts in central Boulder. In addition, the Dairy Performance Space – a 250-seat dance theater – is used for classes as well as performances. Boulder Ballet School is now accepting enrollment for the spring 2014 semester beginning January 13th. For more information, please visit www.boulderballet.org, or call 303.443.0028.
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