Colorado Ballet Expands Professional Company to 43 Dancers and Announces Dancer Promotions for 2026-2027 Season
DENVER, CO (August 4, 2026) — Colorado Ballet will expand its company from 40 to 43 dancers for the 2026-2027 season. The Ballet has promoted 12 dancers within the Company and hired one new Corps de Ballet artist. They will be joined by 18 Studio Company dancers, bringing the total number of dancers to 61.
“As Colorado Ballet continues to flourish, I am especially proud to recognize these artists for their hard work, dedication, perseverance, and tenacity,” said Artistic Director Gil Boggs. “Their promotions are a testament to the commitment they bring to the studio and the stage every day. It is incredibly rewarding to watch dancers advance both artistically and technically and reach new heights within the Company. Expanding our roster to 43 professional dancers also creates exciting opportunities for growth, allowing us to broaden our repertoire and bring ambitious productions to our audiences, including the Colorado premiere of John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet this season.”
Soloists
Liam Hogan and Mackenzie Dessens Studinski were promoted from Demi-Soloist to Soloist.
Demi-Soloists
Kenny Allen and Catherine McGregor were promoted from Corps de Ballet to Demi-Soloist.
Corps de Ballet
Lily Hagan, Chloe Kinzler, Wyatt Mier and Justin Pidgeon were promoted from Apprentice to Corps de Ballet. Emilia Perkins joins the company this season as part of the Corps de Ballet. She most recently performed with the Sarasota Ballet in Florida.
Apprentices
Tiffany Hopkins, Bailey Marie, Natalie Taylor and Cobin Tonsmeire were hired from the Studio Company into the main Company as Apprentices.
Studio Company
Colorado Ballet's Studio Company is a pre-professional training opportunity for dancers with the potential and desire to become professional dancers. Eight of this season’s studio company are alumni of the Raydean Acevedo Colorado Ballet Academy.
Our 2026-2027 Season
Single tickets and subscriptions are now on sale at www.coloradoballet.org.
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.
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. The 2027 program features George Balanchine’s joyous Allegro Brillante, Lynne Taylor-Corbett’s luminous Chiaroscuro, and Jiří Kylián’s exuberant Sinfonietta. Sponsored by The Denver Ballet Guild and Stifel – The Baroway Financial Group.
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.
