Raising the Barre with Boulder Ballet Live

Matthew Helms have partnered for years but this is the first time they've partnered for The Nutcracker!

Boulder Ballet company dancers Gabi Lukasik and Gavin Hounslow join us for the first in our 2022 Nutcracker series!

Who doesn't love the classic annual holiday tradition of taking your family to see The Nutcracker? It has been the pleasure of Boulder Ballet for more than 35 years to produce The Nutcracker with a professional company along with over eighty aspiring young dancers from our community to present this magical show. Unfortunately, due to the current COVID-19 environment, the Nutcracker performances with the Boulder Philharmonic and Boulder Ballet, to be held at Macky Auditorium November 26-28, have been canceled. We look forward to returning to Macky together for an incredible Nutcracker in 2022! The good news is that Boulder Ballet still has an opportunity to perform The Nutcracker at Vance Brand Auditorium in Longmont, December 3-5. To make this production with the Longmont Symphony Orchestra (partners of over two decades) possible, we need your help. Due to the revenue loss from the Macky performances we need your support to help offset the costs of this production. Should we fail to raise these funds The Nutcracker will be put on hold altogether until 2022. The good news? We have several generous foundations that want to see this productions happen and have offered a $25,000 match - our goal is a total of $50,000 so we are already halfway there! Please consider making a donation today and help us bring the Boulder and Longmont communities together to experience the joy of The Nutcracker live, in-person after a year and a half of canceled seasons, shuttered venues, and furloughed artists. We humbly thank you for your support and look forward to celebrating with you in December! https://www.coloradogives.org/theNutcracker?step=step1

Meet choreographer Amy Hall Garner who joins us to discuss her background, development as a choreographer, positives takeaways from the past year and what she's looking forward to in the future!

Meet one of the newest members of the Boulder Ballet Professional Company - Ross Freeman! Boulder Ballet Artistic Director Lance Hardin also joins us to discuss the 2021 season!

Ana Clair and Claudia Anata Hubiak discuss Boulder Ballet's upcoming virtual Nutcracker Suite! Photo by Lexi Evans

Boulder Ballet Executive Director Claudia Anata Hubiak and Boulder Ballet Artistic Director Lance Hardin discuss the upcoming Colorado Gives Day and its importance to Boulder Ballet

Noah Slade Yarnell joins us to discuss dealing with the wide variety of changes that COVID 19 has brought to her life - the negatives, the silver linings and the positives!

Colorado Ballet's Kevin Gael Thomas joins us to discuss the value of improvisation while training at home!

Choreographers Amy Earnest and Lance Hardin join Composter Michael Schulze to discuss the work that goes into their unique collaborations. The three have combined to create some truly amazing performances with the Boulder Ballet Company Dancers.

Boulder Ballet Executive Director Claudia Anata Hubiak discusses taking on the challenges facing the Company and School during social distancing times as well as the many activities, performances, interactive presentations and much more that we have to look forward to with BB!

Emma discusses her season as a Company apprentice dancer and how it has motivated her to continue her career in ballet. Covid 19 may have interrupted her professional progression but it certainly hasn't stopped her!

Kelly Dornan discusses how the shut down affected her and how she has been able to make this as positive an experience as possible. Kelly is working hard and determined to be ready to go when the season returns.

Lance Hardin and Amy Earnest discuss the importance of keeping in touch and engaged with both the Boulder Ballet School and Company. They talk about the challenges and learning curve of teaching online and what we, as parents, can do to make this an effective learning time for our dancers.

Ana Claire and Claire Davison discuss the challenges of both teaching and learning online. The two make a wonderful combination for both Boulder Ballet School and the Boulder Ballet Company!

Carly Hambridge is staying as busy (and positive) as possible with a full teaching schedule during our shut down. She looks for the silver lining to the forced time off and is ready to come back even stronger than before. Photo by Gene Schiavone

Melissa Heslep was enjoying a highly successful season when Covid brought it to an immediate halt. Melissa is making the best of a tough situation through teaching, work and working out at home. Melissa discusses the challenges she's currently facing with an uncertain season and how she maintains her positive attitude. Photo by Amanda Tipton

Dancing and working out are Matthew Helms' life. Covid 19 took both of those away from him on the same day. Matthew maintains a positive outlook and is keeping himself moving and active. He discusses how he's dealing with a life turned upside down and sideways. Photo by Amanda Tipton

Following graduation, Katherine Codrescu decided to pursue her dream of dancing professionally and postpone college for a year. Katherine was having a fantastic year until recent events cut the season short. Katherine discusses what this year has meant for her and how she remains fit and focused on being at her best when the season begins again. Photo by Amanda Tipton

Kate Adams joins us to discuss life during coronavirus. Kate has overcome many obstacles to become a professional dancer. One of these has left her immunocompromised so she's facing some especially nervous times. Kate talks about maintaining a positive attitude, studying to be a nurse and how she's dealing with strict quarantine. Photo by Amanda Tipton