Ballet Ariel Company and School
Denver, Colorado

The place for history, diversity, & contemporary ballet.

The Ballet Ariel Company was founded by director Ilena Norton in 1998 in Denver, Colorado. Audiences are excited about ballet when they see the beautiful choreography by Ilena Norton. The diversity of our programs from the staging of historic ballets by Patricia Renzetti to the invention of contemporary ballets by Gregory Gonzales and others delights audiences. Our performances celebrate diversity both in the content of our programs and the diversity of our performers.

Not to be missed: our 10th anniversary spring show—
an exciting program is planned for our 2009 spring concert, featuring the premier of Echelons. This new ballet by Ilena Norton and Patricia Renzetti is based on Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar. In this time of national crisis, it is enlightening to revisit another era of turmoil in ancient Rome, but with a special twist. This captivating story of politics, betrayal, and murder is portrayed by women in elegant togas. Also on the program, Patricia Renzetti is staging La Vivandière with choreography by Arthur Saint-Leon and music by Cesare Pugni. This beautiful ballet for five women and one male dancer was choreographed in 1844. La Vivandière is a lively dance featuring the dancers jumping and moving in intricate patterns. Also, the talented Gregory Gonzales is creating and performing in a new contemporary ballet.