About BNC
Mission Statement
Ballet Nouveau Colorado's company, school and community programs are dedicated to enriching lives through innovation in dance.
Vision Statement
Ballet Nouveau Colorado will be recognized as an international leader in the education, development and presentation of dance.
Values Statement
At Ballet Nouveau Colorado, we believe that excellence in dance begins with the dedication of each individual. We pursue our mission with the highest level of passion and integrity and are responsible to our students, audiences and community. We believe that a healthy and thoughtful foundation in classical ballet develops discipline and provides the basic tools needed for the exploration of new possibilities in our art form. We value collaboration, creativity and innovation in all of our pursuits, and we believe that dance should be an enriching and fulfilling experience that is available and accessible to all.
Ballet Nouveau Colorado (BNC) was founded in 1992 as Rocky Mountain Repertory Ensemble, offering quality dance training to the local community and educational programs to North Denver youth. Ten years later the organization established a professional dance company, creating a three-pronged approach to providing great dance to the Denver metro area.
The Company
In 2007, Garrett Ammon and Dawn Fay took the artistic helm of BNC and launched the organization onto the national scene. Under their visionary leadership, BNC has transformed into a laboratory dedicated to nurturing and developing captivating contemporary dance.
Three fundamental values ground the working philosophy of Ammon and Fay: community, collaboration and creation. With these cornerstones, a radiant energy has grown around the twelve exemplary dancers that make up BNC's professional company. Each dancer is valued for the unique personal perspective they bring to the studio process, building a whole greater than its parts. Free to "unzip their souls," these artists are continually evolving as they explore their humanity through movement. Whether creating work with Ammon or beginning a new dialog with a guest choreographer, BNC's dancers bring their considerable classical prowess to the table while simultaneously tapping into a vulnerability that strips away pretense.
BNC has quickly become known for presenting work that is both artistically rich and highly accessible. Every production is approached with the perspective that both avid dance lovers and first time audience members should leave the theatre having had an enriching and fulfilling experience. Through the ages dance has been a form of expression that knows no social boundaries. BNC uses this tradition as a framework for its exploration of ideas that are relevant to today's audiences.
The School
An active member of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts, The School of Ballet Nouveau Colorado is guided by a philosophy that any person who walks through its doors deserves the highest caliber dance education. The School of BNC serves more than 300 students per year and is deeply committed to every student regardless of age, ability, aspiration, or socio-economic status. Under the guidance of Julia Wilkinson Manley since 2002, The School of BNC has become highly respected in the Denver area for providing a nurturing and professional environment that produces dancers of both strong mind and body. Every student from pre-school through pre-professional is provided the opportunity to perform on stage to a live audience. This is an important part of building confidence and self-esteem in BNC's young dancers. To learn more about The School of BNC visit schoolofbnc.com.
Community Programs
Serving more than 20,000 individuals annually, BNC's Community Programs are some of the most comprehensive in the Denver metro area. As a fundamental element since the organization's founding, BNC's education programs are praised for their collaborative approach and highly skilled instructors. BNC's elementary partnership program brings year-long arts experiences to four public schools in high-need neighborhoods each season. These ongoing residencies provide the opportunity for students to gain confidence through an in-depth process that merges dance with each school's specific curricular priorities. These programs also provide interactive in-school and in-theatre performances by BNC's professional company throughout the year.