Colorado Ballet Expands Access with Two New Ticket Initiatives for 2026-2027 Season
Pay What You Can Performances for Each Ballet
Bridge to Ballet Program Provides Complimentary Performance Tickets to Underserved Audiences through Nonprofit Partnerships
DENVER, CO (July 28, 2026) — Colorado Ballet expands access to the performing arts through two new community-centered initiatives designed to remove barriers and welcome new audiences to the theater. The organization’s Bridge to Ballet program will provide complimentary tickets to local nonprofit partners, schools, and community-serving organizations, while its Pay What You Can performances will allow patrons to choose a ticket price that fits their budget. Together, these programs reflect Colorado Ballet’s commitment to ensuring that more individuals and families across the region can experience the beauty, inspiration, and transformative power of live ballet, regardless of financial circumstances.
“We believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience ballet,” said Artistic Director Gil Boggs. “Through our Bridge to Ballet and Pay What You Can programs, we are working to ensure that cost is not a barrier to participation in the arts. By welcoming new audiences and strengthening relationships with communities across Colorado, we hope to create meaningful experiences that foster creativity, belonging, and a lifelong appreciation for the performing arts.”
“These new programs invite more members of our community to experience the beauty, power, and inspiration of live ballet,” said Executive Director Sameed Afghani. “By expanding access, we are not only growing audiences for today but also nurturing the next generation of arts enthusiasts.”
The Ballet’s 2026-2027 season features five productions with music performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra— Don Quixote (Presented in memory of Frank and Roselyn Hopkins), The Nutcracker (Presented by PNC Bank), Romeo and Juliet (Colorado premiere; Presented by Mary Ellen and David Wright), The Wizard of Oz (Presented by Susan Hymers Evans and Bert Evans) and MasterWorks (Sponsored by The Denver Ballet Guild and Stifel/The Baroway Financial Group), the Ballet’s annual repertory production.
About Pay What You Can Performances
For every production in our 2026/2027 season, Colorado Ballet will offer one designated Pay What You Can performance. Patrons may choose the ticket price that works best for their budget, making it easier for more people to enjoy world-class ballet in Denver. Visit https://coloradoballet.org/Pay-What-You-Can for more information.
Pay What You Can tickets are available online beginning at 10:00 a.m. MT on the designated on-sale date listed below. Seating is subject to availability and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Don Quixote: Performance – 2 p.m. October 3, 2026; Tickets Available September 19, 2026
- The Nutcracker: Performance – 6:30 p.m. November 29, 2026; Tickets Available November 15, 2026
- Romeo and Juliet: Performance – 2 p.m. January 30, 2027; Tickets Available January 16, 2027
- The Wizard of Oz: Performance – 7:30 p.m. March 12, 2027; Tickets Available February 26, 2027
- MasterWorks: Performance – 2 p.m. April 10, 2027; Tickets Available March 27, 2027
About Bridge to Ballet
Through Bridge to Ballet, we partner with local nonprofit organizations, schools, and community-serving agencies to provide complimentary tickets to Colorado Ballet performances for individuals and families who may otherwise face barriers to attendance. By working alongside trusted community partners, we strive to create meaningful opportunities for new audiences to experience the power, beauty, and inspiration of live ballet.
Organizations may be eligible to participate if they: are a nonprofit organization, school, community group, or government agency; serve historically under-resourced, under-represented, or underserved communities; and distribute tickets directly to program participants, clients, students, or families.
Organizations interested in joining the Bridge to Ballet program are invited to apply on the Ballet’s website at https://coloradoballet.org/Bridge-to-Ballet-Program.
Our 2026-2027 Season
Don Quixote
October 2-11, 2026
Step into the sun-drenched world of Spain. The characters of Cervantes’ beloved novel come to life in this ballet by legendary choreographer Marius Petipa. Ludwig Minkus’s blazingly energetic score pulses with Spanish-themed melodies, performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra. Presented in memory of Frank and Roselyn Hopkins.
The Nutcracker
November 28-December 27, 2026
A cherished holiday tradition for more than 65 years! Based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s timeless story, The Nutcracker follows Clara and her Nutcracker Prince on an enchanted journey. The ballet features Tchaikovsky’s beloved score performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra. Presented by PNC Bank.
Romeo and Juliet
January 29-February 7, 2027
Travel to Renaissance Italy for Shakespeare’s immortal tale of two lovers. The Colorado Ballet presents the Colorado premiere of John Cranko’s grandly theatrical Romeo and Juliet—one of the definitive versions of this timeless story, performed by companies around the world. Sergei Prokofiev’s sublime and bombastic score will be performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra. Presented by Mary Ellen and David Wright.
The Wizard of Oz
March 5-14, 2027
Follow the yellow brick road! Colorado Ballet brings L. Frank Baum’s beloved classic to life. Internationally acclaimed choreographer Septime Webre—creator of ALICE (in wonderland)—blends classical and contemporary ballet with vibrant storytelling. Matthew Pierce’s vibrant, genre-blending original score will be performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra. Presented by Susan Hymers Evans and Bert Evans.
MasterWorks
April 9-18, 2027
Triple the thrill! Colorado Ballet’s annual repertory production, MasterWorks features a captivating trio of masterpieces that showcase the dancers’ artistic excellence and versatility. With music as dynamic and compelling as the choreography, this program offers a rich array of styles, giving audiences a rare chance to experience classical and contemporary dance on the same program. Sponsored by The Denver Ballet Guild and Stifel/The Baroway Financial Group. The 2027 program features George Balanchine’s joyous Allegro Brillante, Lynne Taylor-Corbett’s luminous Chiaroscuro, and Jiří Kylián’s exuberant Sinfonietta.
About Colorado Ballet
Presenting exceptional classical ballet and innovative contemporary dance through performances, training, education and community engagement, Colorado Ballet continues to inspire and grow an increasingly diverse audience base in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1961 by Lillian Covillo and Freidann Parker, Colorado Ballet is a non-profit organization celebrating 66 years of excellence. As a world-class professional company serving more than 100,000 national and international patrons, Colorado Ballet presents 58 performances annually to sold-out audiences in the 2,000-seat Ellie Caulkins Opera House. The Company’s 43 professional dancers and 20 studio company dancers come from all over the world. Colorado Ballet’s The Armstrong Center for Dance, a 35,000-square-foot building, boasts eight state-of-the-art professional dance studios and amenities for the professional Company.
Under the direction of Artistic Director Gil Boggs, Colorado Ballet performs classical ballet masterpieces, full-length story ballets, and its critically acclaimed repertory production MasterWorks, featuring varied works from neoclassical ballets to world premieres. The Raydean Acevedo Colorado Ballet Academy serves more than 1,200 students from toddlers to seniors each year. Colorado Ballet’s Education & Community Engagement department provides high-quality educational opportunities for preschool through adults. The department makes 70,000 contacts each year with a variety of youth, families, teachers, and people with and without disabilities, reaching over 300 schools and organizations. For more information, please visit coloradoballet.org.
