Ballet Ariel
Denver, Colorado

Ballet Ariel presents original ballets that combine classical tradition and images of contemporary culture, while providing dance education and fostering appreciation of the art of ballet.

Artistic and Executive Director Ilena Norton founded the Ballet Ariel Company in 1998. She has created many original ballets for the company including Echelons, Latin Movement, The Chase, and Avoca – A Tale of Molly Brown. Under her direction, Ballet Ariel performs their season concerts at the Cleo Parker Robinson Theatre, and has also performed at the Denver Art Museum, the Brooks Center for the Arts and Spirituality, the Arvada Center for the Arts, the Newman Center for the Performing Arts, and on tour to Casper, Wyoming and Leadville, Colorado. We are excited to partner with the new PACE Center Theatre in Parker for our spring concert in 2012. Donald Atwood of worlddancereviews.com said in 2011 that Ballet Ariel is a “Ballet Company that is becoming an absolute gem.” Ballet Ariel envisions building excitement and a broader appreciation for the art of ballet. We also value promoting diversity in the school, company, and company programs.

Associate Artistic Director Patricia Renzetti was the prima ballerina for the Colorado Ballet for twelve years, and also was a principal dancer with the London Festival Ballet (now English National Ballet), Scapino Ballet of Holland, Iranian National Ballet, and the Tampa Ballet. She appeared as a guest ballerina with the Estonia National Ballet, Teatro Communale in Florence, Italy, and the Israel Ballet. She has danced leading roles in the classical repertoire including Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Swan Lake, and Sleeping Beauty. She has staged many classical ballets for Ballet Ariel including the pas de six from Napoli, Les Sylphides, La Vivandiere, and Pas de Quatre.