Colorado Ballet Expands Sensory-Friendly Programming for 2026-2027 Season

Sensory-Friendly Performances Offered for
Don Quixote and The Nutcracker

DENVER, CO (August 25, 2026) — Building on the success of its sensory-friendly matinee performances of The Nutcracker, Colorado Ballet is expanding its commitment to accessibility and inclusion during the 2026-2027 season with two sensory-friendly performances.

For the first time, Colorado Ballet will present a sensory-friendly evening performance of Don Quixote on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. The performance is intended to welcome both adult audiences and families who may benefit from a relaxed and supportive theatre experience. Colorado Ballet will also continue its beloved sensory-friendly presentation of The Nutcracker on Sunday, November 29, 2026, at 1 p.m.

These performances are designed for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), sensory processing disorder (SPD), and other sensory sensitivities. Tickets for both performances start at $20. More information at https://coloradoballet.org/Sensory-Friendly-Performances.

“At Colorado Ballet, we believe the joy and beauty of ballet should be accessible to everyone," said Gil Boggs, Artistic Director of Colorado Ballet. "The overwhelming response to our sensory-friendly performances has shown how important it is to create welcoming spaces where individuals with sensory sensitivities and their families can experience live performance comfortably. Expanding the program to include Don Quixote allows us to reach even more members of our community, including adults who may not have had the opportunity to enjoy ballet in a setting designed with their needs in mind.”

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts with additional support from The LARRK Foundation.

About Sensory-Friendly Performances

Colorado Ballet's sensory-friendly performances feature a supportive environment that allows audience members to engage with the performance in the way that works best for them. Adaptations include:

• Reduced potentially startling special effects and lighting

• House lights maintained at approximately 30%

• Adjustments to minimize loud or unexpected sounds where possible

• Availability of headphones or earplugs while supplies last

Audience expectations are also relaxed, allowing patrons to:

• Move freely throughout the performance

• Leave and re-enter the theatre as needed

• Use iPads and electronic devices for therapeutic purposes

• Utilize provided sensory and manipulative objects

Additional accessibility accommodations include:

• Volunteers throughout the theatre to provide assistance

• Quiet and activity areas in the lobby

• A touch table featuring costume pieces for tactile exploration

• Audio description services

Colorado Ballet's dancers also play an important role in creating an inclusive experience by making artistic choices that help ensure performances remain vibrant, engaging, and accessible for all audience members.

About the Performances

Don Quixote

Thursday, October 8, 2026 | 6:30 p.m.
Presented in memory of Frank and Roselyn Hopkins

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. Follow the adventures of Don Quixote and the passionate love story of Kitri and Basilio amid a spectacular cast of toreadors, fandango dancers, and dryads. Full of humor, this romantic comedy is one of the most entertaining ballets in the classical canon. Infused with traditional Spanish folk dance, the choreography showcases the Company’s sparkling technique, athleticism, and virtuoso dancing. Ludwig Minkus’s blazingly energetic score pulses with Spanish-themed melodies, performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra.

The Nutcracker

Sunday, November 29, 2026 | 1 p.m.
Presented by PNC Bank

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 into the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Brimming with mischievous mice, twirling snowflakes, and dances from many lands, the ballet features Tchaikovsky’s beloved score performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra.

Tickets

Tickets for Colorado Ballet's sensory-friendly performances start at $20 and are available at https://coloradoballet.org/Sensory-Friendly-Performances.

Patrons can also contact the Colorado Ballet’s Patron Services team via email at tickets@coloradoballet.org or over the phone at (303) 339-1637. Hours are Monday–Friday from 10am-4pm.

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 17 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 47,000 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.