Student Matinee

Student Matinee is a beloved community offering facilitated by Colorado Ballet Education & Community Engagement. The day before the premiere of a Colorado Ballet company production, the doors to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House open for students and community members to watch the final dress rehearsal. Student groups are invited to experience ballet up close, complete with full costumes, make-up, sets, lighting and sound for a heavily discounted price (see below). As the curtain opens, the magic begins!

For other offerings, see Productions. Interested in moving with us? Check out Programs.

RESERVE A SPOT

To request a spot for any of the productions, your school must fill out the reservation request form after clicking the register button for the matinee below (emails will not be considered).

Please look at the instructions page on how to register your school here before completing the registration form.

If you have any questions, please e-mail Cassie Wilson at cassie.wilson@coloradoballet.org.

10 is the minimum amount of seats that may be requested for all student matinee performances (5 of the 10 seats are required to be students). Requests that do not meet these requirements will not be considered.

Completing this request does not guarantee your school seats at your selected matinee. Once reviewed, submissions will receive either an acceptance or a waitlist notification via email as well as payment information.

COST

FRL Rate	Price per seat
91-100%	$0
76-90%	$5
0-75%	$10
Homeschools, Dance studios, Private schools, Other	$20

One free chaperone per 10 students registered.

REQUEST SEATS

Policies

View Student Matinee Policies
View Bus, Parking, & Arrival Info
View Notice of Filming Photography and Observation

Registration & Study Guides

2025-2026 Season Main Guide
2025-2026 El Manual: Entendiendo el Ballet

Dracula

Thursday, October 2, 2025, 10:30AM - 12:55PM
Run time: 2h23min

The return of Colorado’s cult favorite, Dracula promises all the spine-chilling drama and dark screams of this classic gothic love story set in 19th century Transylvania, based on the novel by Bram Stoker. With choreography by Michael Pink and Philip Feeney’s original score performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra, Dracula's return to the Mile High City illuminates the spooky season for audiences craving a thrilling adventure.

Elementary Dracula Guide
Middle-High School Dracula Guide

The Nutcracker

Presented by PNC Bank
Thursday, December 4, 2025, 11:00AM - 12:50PM
Run time: 1h 50min

NO COST (MUST BE TITLE 1 SCHOOL OR PUBLIC SCHOOL WITH 90%+ FRL%)
Friday, December 5, 2025, 11:00AM - 12:50PM
Run time: 1h50min

The Nutcracker returns to the stage for Colorado Ballet’s 65th season to delight audiences of all ages. This timeless tradition and audience favorite captures the festive spirit of the season, replete with mischievous dancing mice, sweet Sugar Plums, a symphony of swirling snowflakes, and Tchaikovsky’s beloved score performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra.

Elementary Nutcracker Guide
Middle-High School Nutcracker Guide
La Guía de El Cascanueces

The Great Gatsby

Presented by Mary Ellen and David Wright
Thursday, January 29, 2026, 10:30AM - 12:55PM
Run time: 2h 25min
- Continuing to bring new and innovative works to Denver, Colorado Ballet presents The Great Gatsby. Originally scheduled to appear at The Ellie in 2021 during the pandemic, this new ballet will make its long-anticipated premiere at Colorado Ballet, transporting you back to the Roaring Twenties through cinematic sets, an original score by Carl Davis, and dramatic choreography by Jorden Morris. Experience the decadence of history’s most carefree decade as F. Scott Fitzgerald’s great American novel unfolds through dance.
- Elementary The Great Gatsby Guide
  Middle-High School The Great Gatsby Guide

A Midsummer Night's Dream

- Thursday, March 5, 2026, 11:00AM - 12:50PM
  Run time: 1h 47min
Returning to the home of its 1997 inception for the first time in a decade, Colorado Ballet presents Christopher Wheeldon’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Our dancers of today breathe fresh, new character into this iconic work which Colorado Ballet originally commissioned Wheeldon to create on the company. Shakespeare’s comical play comes to life alongside Felix Mendelssohn’s score performed by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra.
- Elementary Midsummer Guide
  Middle-High School Midsummer Guide

Masterworks

(New work by Yoshihisa Arai, The Rite of Spring by Glen Tetley, and Concerto Barocco by George Balanchine)
Thursday, April 9, 2026, 12:30PM - 3:30PM (if staying for all three pieces)
Run time: 3h 00min (includes notes)

MasterWorks, Colorado Ballet’s annual repertory production, returns with a captivating trio of powerhouse masterpieces that put artistic excellence and innovation on full display—Concerto Barocco by George Balanchine, The Rite of Spring by Glen Tetley with Igor Stravinsky’s music which revolutionized and radicalized original audiences, and the world premiere of a new contemporary work by Yoshihisa Arai commissioned by Colorado Ballet, choreographed to Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 2.

2025/2026 Student Matinee Series

Student Matinee Presenting Sponsor

I had so much fun and it was even better than I had expected. The dancing was incredible and the music was equally amazing. I wanted to learn more than I knew and I did. I’m hoping to see more ballets in the future.

– Middle School Student

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