Every balletgoer experiences a performance a little differently. Some want to be close enough to see every expression, while others love taking in the full sweep of the choreography, scenery, and lighting.
To help you choose your ideal view, we asked Colorado Ballet staff and dancers where they like to sit at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House and why. Their answers reveal that the "best" seat often depends on what you most enjoy about a performance.
For some audience members, the best seat is about feeling fully immersed in the performance. Located close to the action, Pointe Circle offers an intimate perspective that puts you right in the heart of the experience. From here, you can appreciate the athleticism, artistry, and emotion of every movement while feeling deeply connected to the dancers and the story unfolding before you.
Highlights:
- Close proximity to the dancers and action
- Centered view of the stage
- Immersive, energy-filled experience
- Easy to connect with the emotion and artistry of the performance
- Perfect for patrons who want to feel surrounded by the magic of live ballet
Many staff and dancers recommended Parterre Center because it offers a balanced perspective of the stage. These seats strike the perfect balance between seeing the full stage picture and catching the dancers' expressions up close.
-Elevated view with no heads blocking sightlines
- Ability to see the entire stage
- Close enough to catch facial expressions
- Best view of both choreography and storytelling
- Easy access to exits, lobby, and concessions
- Strong value for the ticket price
If you love seeing formations, staging, scenery, and lighting come together, the front row of the Mezzanine offers a unique perspective. Several staff members highlighted this area as an ideal choice for large-scale productions such as The Nutcracker and Swan Lake.
- Great vantage point for appreciating formation and staging
- Better perspective for large-scale productions like The Nutcracker and Swan Lake
- Elevated view with no heads blocking sightlines
- Allows you to take in the full scope of the production, including sets and lighting
- No need to turn your head to follow action across the stage
Some staff love Spotlight in Center Orchestra, rows P-T. You're far enough back to see the entire set and corps de ballet dances, but close enough to see facial expressions and costume details.
A few also gave shoutouts for Mezzanine sides and side boxes, which you give a view of both the dancers and the orchestra.
One theme emerged from nearly every response: each section of the Ellie offers something different. Whether you're captivated by facial expressions, fascinated by choreography, or eager to take in every scenic detail, there's a seat that matches the way you like to experience ballet.
"My favorite seat in the Ellie would probably be center parterre, two or three rows back. From here I can see the entire stage and watch the whole story play out without sacrificing being able to feel the emotions from the dancers. Each detail from the set and the surrounding dancers helps to amplify the potency of the main storyline."
"Parterre, center, near aisles. It is the perfect distance to view the whole stage, but also still see the dancers' faces and expressions. Sometimes I like being up high to see patterns in classical choreography like Swan Lake!"
"Either front row Mezzanine, when there's a lot of production in a ballet, or Orchestra Center when I want to see dancing and facial performance. There's not a bad seat in the house."
"Front Row Mezzanine: unobstructed view of the stage and you really can see the formations of the dances, and it really gives a wow factor when there is a big corps number with all the dancers doing their choreography in unison. I feel like the front row Mezzanine is the best place to really see and appreciate those large numbers. Also, you aren't so far away that you can still see the individual dancer's expressions, too."
"Front center orchestra: I like to be able to feel like I'm right in the middle of it all."
Colorado Ballet is a 501(c)(3) organization.
Contact Us
Armstrong Center for Dance
1075 Santa Fe Drive
Denver, CO 80204
General: 303-837-8888
Box Office: 303-339-1637
General Info: info@coloradoballet.org
Box Office: tickets@coloradoballet.org
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