Colorado Ballet Kicks Off Its 2026-2027 Season with the Sun-Drenched Romantic Comedy Don Quixote with Performances October 2-11, 2026
Sensory-Friendly and Pay What You Can Performances Available
Presented in memory of Frank and Roselyn Hopkins
DENVER, CO (August 18, 2026) — Step into the sun-drenched world of Spain where romance, humor, and bravura ballet take center stage. Colorado Ballet proudly presents Don Quixote, a vibrant romantic comedy brought to life through the legendary choreography of Marius Petipa. Based on characters from Miguel de Cervantes’ beloved novel, this exhilarating classical masterpiece 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. Don Quixote is presented in memory of Frank and Roselyn Hopkins. CBS Colorado is the Official Television Media Partner of Colorado Ballet.
Performances run October 2–11, 2026, at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.
“What makes Don Quixote such a thrill to present is the pure joy and humor inherent in the ballet,” said Artistic Director Gil Boggs. “The character development is extraordinarily rich, giving our dancers room to bring vivid personalities to life on stage while meeting the unique technical challenges of Petipa’s Spanish-inspired choreography. It’s a wonderful balance of high-energy comedy, theatrical storytelling, and incredible physical precision.”
About Don Quixote
Colorado Ballet’s production of Don Quixote brings the warmth, color, and passion of Spain to Denver. Set to Ludwig Minkus's iconic score played live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra, the production features Petipa’s renowned classical choreography alongside spectacular Spanish-inspired costumes and sets.
The story follows the eccentric idealist Don Quixote and his devoted squire, Sancho Panza, as they set off on a noble quest. Their journey crosses paths with the flirtatious Kitri and the charming barber Basilio, two young lovers striving to be together despite Kitri’s father’s plans to marry her off to a wealthy nobleman. Amid a bustling cast of bravado toreadors, fiery fandango dancers, and roaming gypsies, this comic adventure weaves romance, humor, and sheer technical brilliance into a festive triumph of love.
Performance Information
Tickets start at $40 and can be purchased at coloradoballet.org or call Patron Services at (303) 339-1637 to purchase tickets.
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. The Pay What You Can Performance for Don Quixote will take place at 2 p.m. on October 3, 2026. Tickets go on sale September 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
To continue to reduce the number of ticket resellers, please purchase directly through Colorado Ballet via the website or phone number listed above. Tickets purchased through resellers may not be valid.
Colorado Ballet will present Don Quixote at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House (1385 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80204).
Sensory-Friendly Performance: October 8, 2026
Colorado Ballet presents select performances in a relaxed environment with sensory friendly adaptations. These adaptations provide an inclusive space for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, ASD, SPD, and other sensory sensitives or disabilities. In addition to its long-running Nutcracker Sensory-Friendly performance, the Ballet will offer a sensory-friendly performance of Don Quixote on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at: https://tickets.coloradoballet.org/10176/10320
Upcoming Productions
Single tickets and subscriptions are now on sale at www.coloradoballet.org.
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 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 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.
