DENVER BALLET GUILD

Denver

News: This year marks the first time that breakdancing is an Olympics sport, so it was only natural for Denver Ballet Guild to add a “breaking” performance by the BBOY Factory to its otherwise traditional Showcase of Dance.

The two-day event, chaired by Lisa Olson and Cate Ness, is the guild’s annual effort to introduce school children to the art of dance. In addition to the entertainment value, guild members hope that the experience plants a seed that grows into a lifelong appreciation for, and support of, dance.

“While we might be the Denver Ballet Guild, we support all kinds of dance,” Olson said. “I have received the sweetest thank-you notes from the students, the majority of whom love the action and upbeat dances.”

Ness adds that 62 percent of the students attending the event held at the Newman Center on the University of Denver campus are from schools that benefit from Title 1 funding.

“For many of these students this is their first opportunity to attend a dance performance in a theater. And they are so impressed! One of the ushers told me that as the students were making their way to their seats one of them turned to his teacher and said in a stage whisper ‘This place is so fancy it even has butlers!’ ”

In all, 2,554 students, teachers and chaperones from 21 schools in eight school districts participated in the 2024 Showcase of Dance. It took 46 buses to transport everyone to the Newman Center where four dance companies – Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Boulder Ballet, Mudra Dance and BBOY Factory – performed. Movement artist Peter Davison of Poet of Motion was master of ceremonies.

About the organization: Denver Ballet Guild was founded in 1979 by Florence Ruston (1916-2006) to stimulate interest in ballet and other forms of dance. Toward that end, the members conduct community outreach events such as the Showcase of Dance; fundraisers that include Le Bal de Ballet and the Les Cygnettes and Les Demoiselles youth membership programs.

Website: denverballetguild.org

Have news or announcements for the Nonprofit Register? Email nonprofits@coloradopolitics.com and include a contact name and number if more information is needed.