Fourth Year Of Partnership Brings
Scholarships, Bilingual Dance Classes, And New Opportunities For Denver Students
by Glen Richardson
Celebrating Cultural Heritage: Dancers with Denver-based ArtistiCO celebrate Mexican cultural traditions through folklórico dance. The organization is entering the fourth year of a partnership with Colorado Ballet to expand opportunities for Latino students.
For generations, classical ballet has been associated with elegance, discipline, and artistic excellence. But for many young people, particularly those from underserved communities, the opportunity to pursue professional dance training has remained out of reach. Two Denver arts organizations are working together to change that.
Colorado Ballet and Denver-based ArtistiCO have entered the fourth year of a partnership designed to make classical ballet more accessible to Latino students and families while celebrating the cultural traditions that make Colorado’s arts community distinctive.
The collaboration brings together Colorado Ballet’s professional training facilities and expertise in classical dance with ArtistiCO’s background in Mexican folklórico and culturally inclusive dance education. Through scholarships, bilingual instruction, community workshops, and opportunities to attend professional performances, the organizations are introducing young dancers to possibilities they might never have considered.
At the center of the initiative is a belief that financial circumstances, language barriers, and cultural differences should not determine who gets the opportunity to pursue a career in dance.
“Our ongoing partnership with ArtistiCO is a critical step forward in expanding representation and building real, lasting equity within classical ballet,” said Sameed Afghani, executive director of Colorado Ballet.
Afghani said the organizations are combining their resources and studio spaces to reduce barriers while developing opportunities for talented young dancers to advance their training.
Scholarships Create Opportunities
A Window Into Professional Ballet: Colorado Ballet is making its mainstage productions more accessible to ArtistiCO families through complimentary and discounted tickets during the 2026-27 season, giving young dancers opportunities to experience professional performances.
One of the partnership’s most significant accomplishments this year is the awarding of six scholarships to students interested in pursuing formal ballet training.
Following auditions in May 2026, three students received full-tuition scholarships to Colorado Ballet Academy, while three others were awarded partial-tuition scholarships. The awards provide access to professional-level instruction that might otherwise be financially difficult for their families.
The organizations are also developing activities to help scholarship recipients and their families feel connected to the academy throughout their training.
For ArtistiCO CEO José Rosales, the partnership is about more than simply introducing students to a different style of dance. It is about changing perceptions of who belongs in the world of professional ballet.
Rosales said Latino families frequently encounter obstacles that extend beyond the cost of lessons. Language differences, limited representation, and a lack of awareness about professional dance careers can discourage talented young people from pursuing opportunities.
“For many Latino families, the barriers to ballet are not only financial; they include language, representation, and simply not knowing that dance can be a profession,” Rosales said.
He believes that providing students with access to professional instructors, facilities, and performances can help them envision futures in the performing arts without abandoning their cultural identities.
Bringing Dance Into Denver Schools
The partnership is also reaching students through a series of six bilingual Day of Dance events during the 2026-27 season.
Five of those events are being organized in conjunction with Denver Public Schools, bringing instructors from both organizations together to introduce students to different forms of movement and artistic expression.
Colorado Ballet instructors teach ballet, jazz, and creative movement, while ArtistiCO artists introduce students to traditional Mexican folklórico dance. The combination allows participants to experience both classical and cultural dance traditions in an environment intended to be welcoming and accessible.
The school outreach series began in October with three elementary school sessions. A high school session is scheduled for December, followed by a middle school session in February.
A sixth Day of Dance event takes place at Colorado Ballet’s studios specifically for ArtistiCO students. The program provides classical ballet instruction and opportunities to explore techniques from different dance disciplines.
All six events feature bilingual instruction, an important component of the effort to encourage participation from families who might otherwise feel disconnected from traditional arts institutions.
Making Performances More Accessible
The collaboration extends beyond the classroom and into the theater.
During the 2026-27 season, Colorado Ballet is providing discounted or complimentary tickets to ArtistiCO families for its mainstage productions. The initiative is intended to make professional ballet performances accessible to households that might not otherwise attend.
Seeing professional dancers perform can be particularly meaningful for students who are beginning to consider advanced training or careers in the arts. It also provides families with an opportunity to experience an art form that has historically faced barriers to broader participation.
The partnership is not limited to student instruction. Staff members from both organizations also participate in exchanges covering marketing, production, and other artistic and administrative operations.
Those conversations allow the organizations to share their expertise while strengthening their relationship beyond individual performances or educational programs.
Celebrating Cultural Traditions
ArtistiCO was founded by former principal dancers of Ballet Folklórico de México and has established itself as a Denver nonprofit dedicated to preserving cultural heritage through dance.
With two academy locations, a professional dance company, and community outreach programs, the organization combines Mexican folk dance, classical ballet, and contemporary techniques to provide a broad artistic education.
Colorado Ballet, founded in 1961, is one of the region’s established performing arts institutions. Its professional company presents classical and contemporary productions at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, while Colorado Ballet Academy provides instruction to students of various ages and experience levels.
Together, the organizations are demonstrating how two different artistic traditions can complement one another rather than compete for attention.
The partnership, supported in part by a grant from the U.S. Bank Foundation, represents an ongoing effort to create more inclusive opportunities within Denver’s performing arts community.
For Rosales, the ultimate measure of success will be whether today’s young students can eventually see themselves performing professionally and leading arts organizations.
The goal, he said, is to help the next generation of Latino dancers recognize that their futures can include both professional artistic achievement and a strong connection to their cultural heritage.
As the partnership enters its fourth year, Colorado Ballet and ArtistiCO are working to ensure that the next generation of dancers has more opportunities to take the stage.
For additional information, visit coloradoballet.org or artisticodance.org
