Colorado Ballet

Of all the Nutcrackers I've seen, this may turn out to be the most memorable, for all of the right reasons. The dancing was superb, from the youngest to the most experienced. The staging was simple, elegant, and absolutely all that was needed. The orchestra was not perfect for every note, but was damn near perfect for damn near every note! We love the Opera House as a venue, and it really works well for ballet. The shiny floor was really fun! Lenny & Debi

I loved the fact that each piece was 20-25 minutes long. I liked the simplicity of the costumes. I also enjoyed the middle piece using show tunes and/or love songs from the 40's and 50's. I thought the pianist and trio were wonderful musicians, although the piano could have been a bit louder.

The men were by far better than the women. It's as though the girls didn't decide to wake up until the last act. they were more concerned with looking down to check their feet than getting into the emotion of the dance or eyen making eye contact with their partners. I don't know if it was beacuase it was essentially a series of one act plays instead of a complete storyline that caused this but come on! According to the play bil it is alot of the dancers first season but this is professional and they are charging alot for it- I expected much more. The first half was so unbelievably off synchronization that they should have just given up on trying to be together- or maybe they did. It was also terribly disappointing that there was a live orchestra for only the second of 3 acts. Uuuugh!

Very well done as a ballet - actually very little to do with Don Quixote though enjoyable.

overall.......fabulous........the costumes, music and especially the dancers were as good as it gets.......nice venue, where there doesn't seem.to be a bad seat in the house......convenient parking, though a little costly........a wonderful experience we are ballet goers and thought this was great

We were treated to beautiful costumes, an elaborate set and an excellent production. The Colorado Ballet put on another stellar performance in Don Q. Don't miss Act III when the lead and principle dancers do their solos. Absolutely inspiring.

I thought the talent of the dancers was incredible. However, it did get a little repetitive by the 3rd act. I would have liked to have seen more of Don Quixote & his sidekick interacting with the dancers.

This was a sleeper, maybe just because we went on a Friday night. Seemed mostly uneventful. The live orchestra was great but the music was fairly boring and sounded very repetitious. Maria and Igor were great as always, but the whole ballet seemed to lack drama and spunk. Bring back "Dracula!!!"

The dancing was exquisite and the props made me feel like I was actually there!

We really enjoyed the Ballet. The performers did an excellent job as well as the orchestra. I plan on attending another Ballet in the near future!!

My family and I enjoy seeing plays and ballets and this was great as well. We had some interaction with staff and had the most wonderful experience. Very good play and highly recommended.

Just when I thought Man of La Mancha was as good as Don Quixote got, I saw Colorado ballet's Don Quixote, and was enthralled. The music was masterfully executed, and enhanced the delightful footwork on stage. Kevin Aydelotte's Quixote was a charming nod to crazy, but lovable old men. Alexei Tyukov's portrayal of Basilio was stunning adept at stealing the show with his athletic leaps and graceful support of his counterpart, Sayaka Karasugi, as Kitri. The entire company took the audience on a fanciful journey to old Spain, one I'm not likely to forget.

The production was colorful, energetic and a delight to watch. The Don Q pas de deux was lovely and a real highlight, but the star of the show with world class dancing and SO much personality, was Sayaka Karasugi. She made this production shine. Bravo !

It was a terrific performance - energetic and engaging! And, I've never heard such a wonderful pit orchestra! Bravo!!

I am a huge fan of dance, story telling and performance art. My favorite production of the Colorado Ballet has been Dracula. I found this production's (Don Quixote) quality of the dance, set design and creativity to be very disappointing. The lighting, costumes and choreography in the first act did not start the show on the right foot. very lacking I thought the second act was by far the strongest and while watching it I became very excited for the third act. I wished that the second act had lasted longer and had influenced or inspired the other two acts. The third act was again lacking energy, vision and cohesion. I found the variety and quality of the choreography/dance in the solos to be quite weak and all were inappropriately punctuated with a very long pause for unearned applause.

My favorite ballet of any I have seen performed by the Colorado Ballet.

Don Quixote was incredible, I was like a kid in a candy store throughout the entire performance. The dancers were beautiful, as were the costumes and the backdrops. I was truly inspired!

I am pleased to have a chance to tell you a few things...first, the performance was excellent. The female lead who danced Kitri was superb; the male lead who danced Basilio, was ok, but not in her league. A couple of other things... I paid for orchestra seats which were pricey. After the first act, people moved into that section; in fact, I noticed that people sat pretty much wherever they wanted and the ushers did nothing. I realize the performance was not a sell-out, but it bothered me a bit to see that people who had not paid as much as I were allowed to move into seats ahead of us. I really don't think that's fair. Second, it was cold. The AC was cranked up. We kept our coats on. So, just a couple of minor things, but the ballet itself was very well done. Thanks!

I was a little disappointed with this performance. The costumes and music were just wonderful but the dancing left me wishing I spent my money on something else. Both leads did a great job but the supporting cast really lacked the ease and poise that I am used to watching ballets in New York. Plus, this version is lacking some of the parts that the original version had and that is unfortunate. It could still be enjoyable as an outing but spending over 70 dollars a ticket is just not worth it.

The air conditioning was on so high, our noses were running. We left after the third act! What a shame!! We enjoyed the ballet. The dancers's were terrific as usual. The music was wonderful

The lead dancers were very good. The costumes and set were beautiful.

No Maria Mosina on a Saturday night. Last Colorado Ballet production I will attend. I left during intermission.

Beautiful performance was slightly disappointed in the correspondence to Don Quixote.

This was a wonderful performance. I would love to attend more ballets! I would definately recommend this performance to others. The dancing was very strong and had great emotion.

Don Quixote was absolutely delightful. The cast, as usual, is really talented and seem to be having a wonderful time. I would recommend this to all.

The Ballet was very entertaining. and executed without flaw! My Date always had a want to go to a real live Ballet . She was very pleased that her "First" was Don Quiote. We will return in the future for another production.

My Grandmother and I celebrated her 81st birthday by attending All Pointes West. We were amazed by the quality of dancing and choreography. It was a special performance that we will cherish!

All Pointes West was thoroughly enjoyable with some excellent dancing. The first piece - The Great Galloping Gottschalk - was beautifully done - especially the opening and the humorous piece with 3 female dancers. The Sleeping Beauty excerpt was well danced, but looked too stark with such a plain backdrop. The modern Ave Maria was short but very effective. And finally, Rodeo was well done, especially the role of the cowgirl, and the cowboy she ultimately chooses. It was also good to finally have backdrops. The crowning touch would have been live music - the sound system was not the best and did not match the quality of the dancing. I would recommend this show to most anyone, even those who are not sure about attending a ballet, since this one is less serious and has several "fun" pieces. All in all an enjoyable night.

The Colorado Ballet's performance at DU's Newman Center on Sunday afternoon was delightful, varied, excellence on so many levels. Stunning really!

It was an absolutely wonderful evening. The Newman Center is beautiful and so user-friendly. I loved the canopy-covered sidewalk from the parking garage to the theatre. Much appreciated in the rain. And, the ballet was beautiful. Colorado Ballet is truly a world-class company. Couldn't help but remember back in the early days when Lillian and Friedann were starting the company and all of the struggles they went through. Colorado Ballet has evolved beyond their wildest dreams, I think.

Although the Beast was not as frightening as his castle, the overlay of growls was a neat effect and the shaggy mane was awesome. The Asian undertones in the music and sets created a different delight to this intense tale, and I was glad it did not include singing candelabras. Dana Benton was wonderful as Belle. As always, CB's dancing was synchronized and artistically beautiful - a great performance. My daughter and her friend loved it - we had a lovely girls' day out!

Beauty and the Beast was a great ballet! Didn't know what to expect but the dancing was good. Very theatrical...

Absolutely magnificent. Act II is unsurpassable. The emotions depicted by the dancers was phenomenal.

I must admit after reading the reviews in the newspaper, I was not expecting the best performance. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this ballet. It flowed beautifully. The music was wonderful. The dancing superb. The recorded parts of the performance were not intrusive at all and added to the performance. I am not one to see things twice very often, but I would see this one again. I am also a big fan of Dracula and hope it returns to the Colorado Ballet. I have seen that one three times.

I had read Kyle McMillan's review in the Denver Post so going into the performance on February 28th I had some reservations. However, it was fabulous - the music was terrrifc and the dancing was so fluid and meaningful. I had no problems with Hercules flexing his bicepts. It is important that the dancers convey the emotional side of their characters and his conceit really came out. You cannot beat the titles that are now available for ballet. It helps keep yothe story line on track. In my mind I would rank Beauty up there with Dracula - very different, dark kind of story with suspense and great dancing. No the usual Disney-esque production some parents were expecting. The sets were quite inventive and some moments reminded me of a Julie Taymor production. A great, great , piece of theater. How lucky we are to have such an accomplished ballet company. Kudos to all!

The first 1/3 of the ballet dragged a little and the music was dreadful. I thought the sets were fantastic and some of the costumes extremely clever and beautiful (forest wild boars, bushes, cloaked candle holders, doors of the castle, etc.). However the dancing left a little to be desired and the story did drag. Also we had TERRIBLE seats. We were nose bleed, on the side: everyone had to lean forward in their seats in order to see! Even tall people could not see! These seats should not even be sold. I also wish more of the performance had been accompanied by the mini-live orchestra. Half piped in music and half live was rather distracting. Sincerely, Sushi

Outstanding performance, great choreography, stage design and music, we loved it!

Beauty & the Beast was beautiful. The story was well told and the set design was wonderful.

Great performance - costumes were great and so was the visual effects.

To begin, I travel over 300 miles to see attend the Colorado Ballet. I choose to attend a matinee performance for travel reasons. This is the second matinee in the last two productions that the experience was ruined by unruly children and ushers who seated people 30 minutes into the performance. This is without question rude and demeaning to the company. I may not attend another performance of the Colorado Ballet for these reasons. It is almost as close to attend Ballet West in Salt Lake City. There is a reason why the patronage has dropped, not only economic, but the lack of professionalism of the staff of Ellie Caulkins Opera House and that of parents who do not control their children before, during, and after the performance. The ballet was well staged and the troupe performed well. There were several lapses of consistency in the choreography. A little more imagination in the forest scenes would have gone a long way. Using the aerial ballet at the end was effective. I would have liked to see more of this beautiful technique throughout the performance. I would recommend attending this production, but only in the evening when I assume children are in bed.

Very Good! My 6-year old absolutely loved it! Way to go.

Because I had heard the ballet performance of Beauty and the Beast would be "mesmerizing" for children, and because my children really enjoyed the Colorado Ballet's performance of the Nutcracker last December, I took my children to see Beauty and the Beast (3 kids, 7 or older). The production started off so slow that it was painful; I kept wondering if I was in the wrong ballet. It picked up toward the end, but my children did not enjoy it, and couldn't wait for it to end. This is great for adults; kids over 12 may also enjoy it.

Enjoyed every minute. Dancers were fabulous. Correography was amazing Good story telling. Not for under 10 yrs old

Wonderful lighting, scenery, choreography, costumes. The dancers were very expressive and energetic.

I've been a ballet attendee for the past 20 years. Beauty and the Beast was lovely, although the beginning "the creditors come collecting" was too long almost to the point of ho-hum while the ending "love and compassion saves the day" was too short and ended too fast. I attended the 2:00 mid-afternoon. Some of the supporting dancers were late - not in sync - the girls did not move as one. One of the male dancers appeared confused and then caught up. I thought the male dancers moved better in one flow together than even the dancers playing Belle's sisters. I would have like to have seen more conformity; a better fluid of movement. Dana Benton - superb. Igor Vassine - superb. Dmitry Trubchanov was outstanding and made the character very memorable. Janelle Cooke was excellent.

An average performance of an average ballet. Might want to save your money for a different ballet.

Great overall. A little slow at first. The second and third acts were great. Though it's based off of a children's story, I would not recommend this for very young children, as the stroy line is not explicit and might be difficult for them to follow. Overall, I was very impressed with the choreography and music.

A little dar sometimes scary for children. You definately need to explain the fairy tale version, instead of the Disney version.

Kudos to everyone. The Dancers were marvelous, music was wonderful, and costumes and staging were perfect. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Though I must say, two 30 minute intermissions is a LONG time to wait. I know the dancers are changing costumes, but the wait is very long.

It was a wonderful experience. Highly recommend this performance. Looking forward to future offerings.

Beauty and the Beast was great. It was wonderful for little girls to see. My 6 year old niece loved it. We will return again.

This one was a disappointment. Costumes were not what we've come to expect, the Beast was almost a joke. I really didn't understand the two 20 minute intermissions with only 20 minutes of performance between,Really?

The set, costumes, music, and most of all the dancers were amazing. I have always loved the ballet, and I was not disappointed.

My 16 year old daughter and I had a girls' night out to see the Beauty and the Beast Colorado Ballet. The overall show, the costumes, orchestra, our seat locations and the opera house were amazing. We were down near the orchestra pit and could see all the deatils of the dancers and their costumes and were entranced with the coreography. My only disappointment as that after deciding to go to the evening show and pay for the better seats, hoping that we wouldn't be sitting to small children who should be in bed at this time and weren't interested in sitting through a ballet, we had a family (mom and grandma) with 5 kids aged from 2-7 sitting right behind us. Perhaps the 4 year old girl in her ballet outfit enjoyed the show, but the 3 boys directly behind us, 2 of them about toddler age, didn't seem that engaged as they chewed gum loudly, moved around in their seats constantly, kicking the back of my seat. I have no idea if parents thought this would be a rendition of Disney's Beauty and Beast, but while it had a similar plot line, it wasn't anything close to a Disney production. Many small children where at the show, some were quite frightened by the creatures in the forest, the ghosts in the castle and the beast himself. I think this was billed as a show for the family, but a guideline of children over 5 might have helped keep the toddlers at home, as the folks behind us weren't the only ones with really small children. I expect more of this demographic when we go to the matinees.

Our first visit to the ballet was unforgetable. the costumes were fabulous as was the performance

It was a good ballet. I do think the ushers inside the theater could have been nicer. Many of them were very sharp and stern when they spoke. They were to me and I watched them with other people. That wasn't a good impression of the theater. The guy who took our tickets when we walked in the door was so nice and wonderful. His smile was nice to have the first thing as we walked in. The ballet was very good - the beginning was too long focusing on Belle's father losing his fortune. It was too slow for an opening, but picked up and the rest was very well done.

The performance was good and there were some outstanding dancers in the troupe. The male and female lead dancers were very good, though there was a pretty significant fall off of talent in the supporting dancers. Also, the choreography in the first act was overdone, three always seemed to be some extraneous leaping about that drew away from the performance. The second and third acts were much shorter than the first, better performed, and with better choreography. The orchestra was consistent and performed adequately; though the French Horn player needs to remember he is a professional and that people can see him.

Breathtaking! Especially the principal female dancer...I think I saw her in Giselle years ago and am in awe of her performance...like she's a feather floating across the stage - just beautiful and magnificent!!

I was amazed at the performance! The costumes and theatrics were stunning; the performers were top-notch. I would, and have highly recommended this performance to all of my friends, family and co-workers! I am excited to attend the next production!

My first ballet at 55 years of age. From the 3rd tier the fantastic staging was like watching a movie. Foggy, scraggy, forest scenes with the graceful twirling goddess seemed to be too good to be true. The continuous ballet stuff-leaping and acrobatting non stop was also hard to imagine actual people were physically able to perform all of that. From my perch it really did feel a bit unreal. Is there a way to buy a DVD of the show? The opera house was amazing as well. The DCPA canopy outside frames aspects of Denver so beautifully. There was even some falling snow top top off my day out.

Absolutely loved this production. It's change of pace was wonderful, and it was nice to simply sit and watch the beauty of the dance without great concern for following a storyline. I found myself really listening to the music and moving in my mind right along with the performers. My favorite? The third perfomance - Celtic. It was so enjoyable to watch. The audience truly left tapping their toes too. I sat next to a gentleman who had been to the matinee performance and enjoyed it so much he returned for the evening. Great way to end the season. I'll be back.

My 12 year old and I saw the show last week. What agreat show. We especially liked the celtic part. The dance was incredible.

3Motions was a very pleasant evening. The technique of the dancers is very good. However, it was not a spectacular evening, in our opinion, because of the similarity of the pieces in their movements. In other words, it was very good, but there was no real excitement, which is what we look for in dance presentations.

it was a great chance to see 3 different shrter ballets, each one was different. i have to say that each 25 to 30 min ballet was so enjoyable that i couldn't believe how fast the time flew.

All 3 pieces were very well done! Loved seeing Celts again; although usually ballet companies don't perform the same ballet within a 5 year span and it's only been 3 years since the last one that Koichi danced in, this was still wonderful to see. The company were spot on; all of them, at every pointe; and it was absolutely fantastic. Being there to witness Janelle's last performance was powerfully moving; the company giving her such a beautiful send off was nothing short of sheer class.

Absolutely wonderful. What a great way to end the season. I would definitely recommend this show to family and friends.

I've never been to such a contemporary ballet before. The costumes, hair, and scenery were so modern. I also loved the length of each of the pieces... they felt just right, and the dancers looked like they were really enjoying themselves. Excellent, excellent performance!

Thoroughly enjoyed the performances. One of the best programs we have seen.

The performance shows the incredible range of the Colorado Ballet- this was truly a fabulous production

We thought something might be up when hardly anyone was in the theater 10 minutes after start time (the program began about 15 minutes late). People around us left after each "dance" but we thought it could only get better. There was a guy in the very last dance "Celts" (unfortunately I recycled my program so I don't have his name handy) who showed any note worthy skill and my friend commented that we could have/should have watched him all night! Alas, I think he had a total of 2-4 minutes of dance time.

1. "Eventually": lackluster choreography, forgettable music, pointless story, but well danced. 2. Tudor's "antiwar" piece: dated choreography (but interesting to see the "modern" angularity refined and [more] popularized by Balanchine; the silly "folk" dancing moves of the men were more Russian than German, and distracting more than evocative). Exquisite dancing by the ladies. As always. 3. "Celts": is it becoming a warhorse? However, bombastic and fun, if plodding in places (pas de deux, alas, looked a bit amateurish). NB: if putting a bunch of almost-naked male dancers in mini-kilts, perhaps red velvet should be eschewed. Overall, very good effort by a good, competent company.

All 3 performances were wonderful, but the music and beautiful movements by the dancers in the final performance were outstanding! Real toe-tapping music and the lighting added to the exciitement of the dancers. Very imaginative and lovely.

All threee performances were entertaining and moving. Each expressed the emotion of the theme and captured the imagination while doing so. The three were juxtaposed in a satisfying order, the middle part Echo of Trumpets really brought the emotions low but then Celts picked them back up again, while Eventually stood well on it's own and was a good choice for the beginning. All in all a very satisfying experience.

Really enjoyed modern choreography and Tudor revival. Overall level of technical skill and musicality was high--much improvement since I last saw a performance. Well rehearsed and performed with confidence and elan. Would love to see more Paul Taylor, Balanchine, etc.

Just loved 3motions! It was a chance to see other dancers not normally featured in the classics. The dancers showed their wide range of dancing skills. They are so incredibly fit it makes you inspired to go dance.

The first dance was just mediocre, the second was about the nazis and very grim, the third was irish dancing and not ballet at all.

The diversity of the three performances took you on an emotional ride. The quality and intensity of the dancers were so impressive. It was a wonderful journey. Thank you!

The Celtic performance was the best! Would highly recommend this ballet.

I took my niece to see her first ballet. She smiled and jumped up and down at each intermission! It was a great way to spend an evening. The Celts was FANTASTIC, I wanted to get up and dance too! Can't wait for next season!!!!!!

3Motions lived up to its title. The dance is split into three moods, bittersweet, terrifying and unfettered triumph. The first dance, a world premiere by choreographer Brian Reeder, is a sentimental and somewhat predictable story of an old man ruminating over his age and watching the world of the young pass him by. The costumes, the dancers, even the old man and his wife are all so charming and whimsical that one can kind of imagine this being the ballet answer to the Pixar movie, "Up." The second is the strongest piece of the entire ballet. "Echoing of Trumpets" is a story originally dedicated to the Czech village of Ludice which was destroyed by the Nazis in WWII. Bleak and powerful, the story of the village women desperately trying to maintain their dignity throughout a series of beatings and rapes is sure to twist your gut. Maria Mosina is brilliant as the suffering wife of a tortured husband and Janelle Cook's turn as a woman who puts herself in harm's way to give her suffering friends a moment's reprieve is practically scene stealing. The imagery in this piece is stark. A man's body hung upside down on a cross, the clothing torn on the bodies of the delicate dancers, and a starving young woman being taunted and tossed between the brutal soldiers who have no mercy on her. This piece is not to be missed. The show closes with "Celts". It is an instant crowd pleaser and suitably lightens the mood after the somber intermission. It is not a very deep piece but the pairing of classical ballet moves with a dash of Irish traditional is guarenteed to get the audience clapping along and cheering loudly. By all means head straight to this production! The 3Motions are definately going to keep you intrigued and there is nothing unaccessible about any of the pieces. You might want to think twice about taking your younger children though, due to the scariness of the second piece, although it could provide for a good oppotunity in discussing the reality of history to them and the importance of never forgetting it.

my husband and I went last night to another fantastic production by the colorado ballet--3motions. the first piece, Eventually, was playful and fun, featuring some really fantastic choreography by Brian Reeder, and the costumes were just great! the second piece, Echoing of Trumpets, was a darker piece--the wartime oppression of a czechoslavakian village. very well portrayed and executed, perhaps a little heavy in its content for children. the last piece, "celts," was fun and energetic in its exploration of irish tradition and culture. we loved how much of the movement seemed to be made for the music. I am always impressed by the talent the colorado ballet draws, and how fresh each production I have been to always seems to be.

Colorado Ballet's program, '3motions', was one of the finest performances from this company that I've witnessed. Above all, the performance of Tudor's "Echoing of Trumpets" showed the company's dramatic abilities (especially that of Maria Molina as the wife) to be of the highest level. Another highlight was the performance of Adam Still in Lila York's delightful "Celts", and the level of dancing from the entire company was first rate.

Amazing performance. Even better setting. What a wonderful event to celebrate my wife's birthday. Started 10 minutes late to accommodate late arrivals but once the ballet began it sizzled. Dancers were exceptional with a couple standing out. Music soundtrack with accompanying orchestra above average. Costumes fabulous. Why second intermission? All in all a wonderful Sunday afternoon. Lots of moms and daughters. Go see it!

My girlfriend and I attended the Colorado Ballet's production of Beauty and the Beast on the evening of Saturday, February 27th, 2010. The ballet was the most modern performance, from a ballet perspecitve, that I have ever attended. However, I found the music, sets, and performances very moving. This ballet will not just be remembered for the performance though, for it was during the first intermission, at the front of the Ellie Calkin's Opera House in Denver Colorado, that I got down on one knee and asked my girlfriend to marry me. She said "Yes" and the entire house erupted with cheers, whistles, and hoots! After being lost in the moment we also noticed that the light directors had placed a spotlight on us. It was a moment we both will remember forever. Now the Colorado Ballet and the Opera House have an even more special place in our hearts. Thank you to the Colorado Ballet for such a wonderful and memorable performance!

The ballet istself was lovely, but the experience was awful due to the utter lack of consideration from the audience. It is no longer worth purchasing big dollar tickets when there is no suspension of belief with the ability to enjoy the perfomance unecumbered.

Beauty & the Beast was beautiful! The music was lovely; the dancing was magical! I really enjoyed it. The address for the location was wrong so finding it was an ordeal but well worth it!

Set was cheap; dancers were out of sync with the music. The mostly canned music is a poor choice. The Ballet cannot produce a live full orchestra the second half of the season. This ballet was definitely not for children even though it was Beauty and The Beast. I am sure the kids under 6 were scared to death in the first act. The Ballet usually is very good the first half of the season but after Christmas is it not worth the money!

The show was fantastic and went off without a flaw. It was engaging and full of moments of dread that had you on the edge of your seat. The work by the orchestra was well timed to the choreography of the many talented dancers. I couldn't take my eyes off the stage. Amazing! The only bad part is that a lot of people must have thought this was a Disney on Ice production of Beauty and The Beast. A good quarter of the audience was little kids(age 3-9) who did nothing but complain loudly about what was going on and how there was no talking. Just to let anyone reading this know.. it's a great show. Take your wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, or go with some good friends who enjoy the arts. But leave your little kids with family or a babysitter. This is not a production for children. There is no talking, as it is a ballet. It is also full of action and suspense that brought several children to tears in the audience.

The Colorado Ballet keeps getting better and better, and this show proves that they can try something new and daring and do it well. It was certainly unusual and not classical ballet, but the dancing was first rate. The music was good and the choreography was excellent.

This ballet could have been compressed into two acts with one intermission. That said, the first act is FAR TOO LONG!!!!! It could have been told in 35 to 45 minutes and still have been too long. The music in the first act is schizophrenic, overbearing and tedious. The staging lacks the oomph of the Nutcracker and the dance is far more interpretive dance than ballet. The first act drones on and on an is filled with no passion or heart. It is dark and boring. But then comes the second act. Spectacular! Beautiful! Marvelous! The dancing is superb, the interaction between Belle and the Beast is perfect and interesting and most importantly, easy for even a six year old to follow. The music in the second act becomes beautiful and almost Tchaikovsky-esque. The third has brief moments of the schizoid music from the first act, but overall is a great ending to the ballet. If you can make it through the first act, the second and third are worth it! The reviewer for the Denver Post must have left after the first act. I can only recommend the ballet as a whole because of the 2nd and 3rd acts. Had the whole performance followed the pattern of the first act... One star and not recommendable.

I loved the costumes, the set, the choreography, and the story! It was absolutely enchanting!

Although Domy Reiter-Soffer's choreography is definitely not my favorite (I prefer traditional ballet) this was an excellent performance by the Colorado Ballet and the sets, also designed by Reiter-Soffer, were very dramatic to say the least. I read several reviews that made note of poor seating design in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House and so I opted to get the more expensive seats at the rear of the orchestra and the view was ideal. If you like modern, expressive takes on classic dance styles do not miss this fantastic show.

Lack of passion and excitement is how I would characterize the Beauty and the Beast ballet. Dance moves were good, and the costumes were colorful. While the music was played well, some of the pieces took away from the experience, rather than added to it. I found the music during the first segment to be tiring to listen to. I would suggest that if you don't mind attending an 'average' ballet experience, then you'll find enjoyment in this ballet.

This is my second time going to a ballet. I saw Nutcracker in December for my first Ballet, and decided I wanted to see more. This show, Beauty and the Beast was simply beautiful. I was amazed at the beautiful choreography. Everyone of the ballet company was awesome. I was really thrilled with the job done by leads Belle and the Beast. Plus the "fairys" that came on with the sorceress were really great during the "dream" sequence of Belles. There was only one unfortunate incident where you could see the bag of a stage hand during the very end of the show, working on something. I am sure this was some accident, but it did throw me off. What was great, is it did not affect the dancers at all, they kept in character. I am now a Colorado Ballet fan!

The show was fantastic, beautiful dancing, beautiful costumes, but it was over 3 hours from start to finish, which is a bit much for most children. By the 3rd act an awful lot of melt-downs were going on. The main problem seemed to be that there were two 20 minute intermissions and the 2nd was completely unnecessary. I'd still say it is worth seeing though!

A very good complex performance, the electronic subtitles helped the viewer understand what was happening. Not the Disney type of Beauty and the Beast that you would traditionally expect. I would recommend for adults, but would strongly caution parents that some of the scenes are pretty intense and could be scary for young ones. Overall a beautiful performance!

Different interpretation than the Disney's version. Not recommended for children younger than 4 years old. The darker artistic movement and stage were more suitable for teens and adults.

I sat in the cheap sets with my 3 1/2 year old and thought it was great. It was two hours long in all, but there were two intermissions of 20 minutes each where you could get up and walk around, hit the restroom, etc so it was fine. One of the things I thought was helpful was reading the cliff notes about each act in the program (right before the pictures of the dancers). My son wanted to know what was going to happen next and I could give him a preview so he could relate more and want to actually pay attention. It was also nice to talk about it during the break and ask him if he had any questions. There were other small children in our area and I think it makes sense to sit in the cheap seats if you have little ones so that you don't interrupt people who payed the big bucks to sit up close. I felt comfortable in that area that if we had to get up because my son was acting up that it would be fine. One parent actually did have to take their kid out (maybe he missed nap time). Anyway, all in all my son really enjoyed it and so did I. My hesitation about bringing him because it might be a little scary or over his head was unfounded and it was fun explaining it to him and seeing him "get it." This is definitely a show that people of all ages can enjoy.

This was a very good performance. My neice and I went and had a wonderful time.

I was excited to take my 7yr old to the ballet for the first time. Once we arrived and took our seats, she soon realized, that this was not "disney". I wondered if she would be dissappointed, bored, or even fall asleep... To my pleasant surprise she was following the story with little narration from me, and predicted every single scene change before it happened! She was whispering to me the whole time, asking questions and telling me what she thought was going on. It was so fun to see her enjoying herself...and although she was tapping me and whispering to me the whole time, it was great that she was so captivated and inquisitive! She wants to come back soon, and I'll be happy to go with her!