Colorado Ballet's The One Gala Returns to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House on April 17, 2025, with a Sold-out House
An unforgettable evening celebrating artistic growth, educational initiatives, and community enrichment!
Denver, CO (March 13, 2025) – For the first time, Colorado Ballet’s The One Gala sold out several months before anticipated! This annual event will take place at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in the Denver Performing Arts Complex on Thursday, April 17, 2025. The One Gala celebrates the art form of ballet and supports the organization’s artistic and educational initiatives which significantly impact the community and elevate Denver’s thriving and vibrant cultural scene. This incredible milestone of selling out far in advance serves as a testament to the generous supporters of Colorado Ballet who have contributed to the organization’s growth and success over the years.
“We are exceedingly grateful for the enthusiasm our loyal community continues to show by supporting Colorado Ballet at The One Gala,” shared Executive Director Sameed Afghani. “Together, we’ve created something truly special—a legacy of artistry and elegance that creates a lasting impact in Colorado.”
The One Gala will once again feature the spectacular Colorado Ballet Wish Tree, custom designed and created by Handsome Little Devils.
“While tickets and tables for this event are sold out, we invite our community to join us and celebrate this milestone by making a gift to the Wish Tree,” explained Artistic Director Gil Boggs.
This beautiful symbol displays our donors’ generosity by representing all the branches of our organization's growth, helping us reach new heights of artistic excellence in our community and beyond.
Wish Tree Areas of Giving for 2025 include: Area of Greatest Need, Education & Community Engagement, Dancer Wellness in honor of Asuka Sasaki, Colorado Ballet Academy Scholarships in honor of Sean Omandam, Student Matinee Transportation, and Expanding The Nutcracker Orchestra.
Anyone can make a gift to the Wish Tree online starting on March 17 through April 21, 2025, and The One Gala attendees can also make an exclusive gift to the Wish Tree in-person on April 17, 2025 to support Student Assemblies.
2025 WISH TREE AREAS OF GIVING
- Area of Greatest Need: Support Colorado Ballet’s mission with your gift of $100 or more. Your contribution will help us present exceptional classical ballet and contemporary dance through performances, training, education and community engagement while inspiring and growing an increasingly diverse audience base.
- Education & Community Engagement: The Education & Community Engagement team brings the joy of dance to more than 40,000 community members across the country each year, making the art form accessible and inclusive for all. Your gift will help provide top-quality teaching artists and skilled accompanists—the dedicated professionals who design and deliver inspiring school programs, community initiatives, and adaptive classes. Your generosity will nurture the next generation of artists and plant the seed for new creative expression.
- Dancer Wellness in honor of Asuka Sasaki: Honor Principal Dancer Asuka Sasaki’s extraordinary 20-year career by supporting Colorado Ballet’s comprehensive Dancer Wellness Program. Your gift ensures dancers have access to essential services like physical therapy, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic care, injury prevention, performance psychology, mental health support, and off-season strength and conditioning. These resources are vital for longevity, helping dancers stay strong and resilient and are crucial for building the resilience of our Company.
- Colorado Ballet Academy Scholarships in honor of Sean Omandam: Honor Demi-Soloist and Academy staff member Sean Omandam as he takes his final bow with Colorado Ballet by supporting Academy Scholarships. The Academy is dedicated to making dance education accessible to all students by providing over $150,000 in scholarships and tuition assistance to families each year. Your generosity helps talented students pursue their dreams, regardless of financial barriers.
- Student Matinee Transportation: Student Matinees bring thousands of students to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House each year, offering an unforgettable introduction to the world of dance and, for many, their first live performance. Transportation costs often prevent schools from attending, but because of generous gifts from last year, over 500 students were able to attend these opportunities. With a gift of $1,000, you can “buy a bus” and allow these schools and students to continue to attend. Our $10,000 goal will provide a transportation fund for schools, ensuring more young audiences experience the magic of live performance.
- Expanding The Nutcracker Orchestra: Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker is Colorado Ballet’s largest production, reaching thousands of people each year. For many, it is their first experience with the magic of live music and dance. The Colorado Ballet Orchestra currently performs with 19 string players, six fewer than the usual roster. With a gift of $150, you will help add string musicians to one performance of The Nutcracker, bringing the music to life as it was meant to be heard. Our goal is to raise $30,000 to fully realize Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece—not only to honor this great work of art but also to support our dedicated string players and enhance the experience for our audiences. The next time you attend The Nutcracker, you will hear the difference.
THE ONE GALA
The event will feature an exclusive presentation of Jiří Kylián’s iconic work Petite Mort, featuring Artists of Colorado Ballet with music from two of Mozart’s most popular concertos performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra. Additional delights will include artisanal cocktails created by The Family Jones, a ballet-infused live auction and a dazzling dinner. Guests will enjoy a series of fun surprises starting with Colorado Ballet’s special red-carpet experience.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LIVE AUCTION
- Walk-On Role in Dracula: Join Colorado Ballet dancers on stage for a once-in-a-lifetime experience performing a walk-on role in the 2025/2026 season opener, Dracula. Dracula's return to the Mile High City illuminates the spooky season and is perfect for anyone craving a thrilling adventure. The package includes the walk-on role, six orchestra level tickets for friends and family to see either the matinee or evening performance on October 11, a photo onstage with you and a fellow dancer in costume, and your name included in the nightly casting.
- The Ultimate Nutcracker Experience: Group package accommodates up to 10 people and includes performance tickets to The Nutcracker, an exclusive pre-performance reception with delectable holiday treats, a post-performance experience on stage, a photo opportunity with the Sugar Plum Fairy, and a beautiful Nutcracker doll for every child.
- Getaway at the Armstrong’s Farmhouse: Weekend package accommodates six people and includes a luxurious stay at the fully renovated 120-year-old York Mountain Farmhouse at Epoch Estate Wines in Paso Robles, California, generously donated by Emeritus Board members Liz and Bill Armstrong. Experience includes a wine tasting, private tour of the winery and a magnum of Epoch wine!
- Gatsby’s Grand Night at the Barre: Includes performance tickets to The Great Gatsby, pre-performance cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at ChoLon, an Asian fusion restaurant in Downtown Denver, a private champagne reception during intermission, and complimentary luxury transportation throughout the night for a party of up to 10 people, courtesy of Jay's Valet.
- A Cocktail Adventure with The Family Jones: Group experience for up to 12 people begins with chef-crafted small bites paired with a curated tasting of Family Jones’ finest spirits, followed by a one-of-a-kind distillery tour around Denver on the Family Jones Bus, and finishes with a sweet treat at the iconic Little Man Ice Cream.
- Backstage with Tiësto: Once-in-a-lifetime Las Vegas getaway experience for up to four people includes a two-night hotel stay, an exclusive Meet & Greet with world-renowned Tiësto, and backstage tickets to one of his shows!
OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT AND GET INVOLVED WITH COLORADO BALLET
To find out more about how you can get involved with Colorado Ballet, please visit our website to learn more about Colorado Ballet Academy, tickets to performances and the many ways that you can give to support Colorado Ballet and receive access to exclusive experiences and behind-the-scenes opportunities.
COLORADO BALLET'S THE ONE GALA COMMITTEE
Co-Chairs: Emily Garnett, Mark and Cari Spiecker.
Jill Anschutz, Beth Boettcher Finke, Jen Bolton, Faith Fisher, Laura Giocomo, Alyson Graves, Merry Logan, Sarah McCarthy, Amber McReynolds, Victoria Phares, Douglas Richards, Denise Sanderson, Megan Scremin, Kristin Wessell.
2025 THE ONE GALA SPONSORS
Sponsors for this year’s The One Gala include: The Anschutz Foundation, Richards Carrington, LLC, RNR Collectibles, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, MidFirst Bank, Baroway Financial Group, Denver International Airport, Denver Skin Doctors, Xcel Energy, Robinson, Waters & O'Dorisio, and The Family Jones.
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 65 years of excellence. As a world-class professional company serving over 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 40 professional dancers and 22 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 over 1,200 students from toddlers to seniors each year. Colorado Ballet’s Education & Community Engagement offers programs to students and community members, making over 25,000 contacts and reaching over 200 schools and organizations annually. Participants come from a variety of backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses including youth, families, teachers, and people with and without disabilities. For more information, please visit coloradoballet.org.
