Colorado Ballet Artistic Director Gil Boggs Extends Contract

Colorado Ballet's Board of Trustees renewed Artistic Director Gil Boggs's contract for an additional five years. Boggs accepted the position of Artistic Director with Colorado Ballet in the spring of 2006.

"The Board last renewed his contract in 2009 and we have been so pleased with the artistic and financial success of Colorado Ballet under his leadership that we are honored to offer him an additional five years," said Colorado Ballet Board Co-chairs Henny Lasley and Holly Baroway. "We look forward to another five years of continued excellence under his leadership."

During Boggs' tenure, Colorado Ballet has presented 14 world premieres and 12 Colorado Ballet premieres by choreographers including Twyla Tharp, Lar Lubovitch, Anthony Tudor, Val Caniparoli, Dwight Rhoden and Lynne Taylor-Corbett. He has also re-staged full-length productions of Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Don Quixote and Coppelia along with adding new full-length productions of Romeo & Juliet, Le Corsaire, Beauty and the Beast and Peter Pan. In addition, Colorado Ballet performed at the Gotham Dance Festival at The Joyce Theatre in New York City in June 2012 at the invitation of choreographer Jodie Gates. She chose two companies to show the span of her work, and Colorado Ballet performed her ballet Embellish.

"I am honored that the Board of Trustees has offered me a five year extension," said Boggs. "I am so proud of this Company and the quality of performances. You don't have to go to New York or San Francisco to see a great ballet, you can see it in Denver with Colorado Ballet."

In addition to his artistic achievements, Boggs has also worked with the Board of Trustees to secure a new home for Colorado Ballet, which is slated to open next month after construction is complete. The new 30,000 square foot dance training and rehearsal studio in Denver's Art District on Santa Fe will include eight state-of-the-art professional dance studios, improved amenities for the professional Company and Academy, and The Armstrong Theater, a black box theater for small performances and events.

"Professional ballet companies who have built and own their facilities see tremendous growth and we expect the new building to do the same for Colorado Ballet," said Boggs. "Our new home in the Arts District on Santa Fe is a wonderful statement that we are a viable organization with deep roots in the city of Denver."

Financially, the organization continues to improve under Boggs' leadership. Last season, Colorado Ballet had the most successful performance season in the history of the organization, breaking both attendance and revenue records.

"More and more people are coming to see Colorado Ballet and it is because of Gil's artistic leadership that the Company is able to present such a great variety of performances," said Lasley and Baroway. "During the last few years, Colorado Ballet has offered classical ballet masterpieces like Swan Lake and Giselle, family-friendly shows like Peter Pan and Cinderella, and innovative contemporary works like The Rite of Spring and Traveling Alone. Colorado Ballet offers something for everyone to enjoy because of the diversity of Gil's artistic choices. We are looking forward to Colorado Ballet's 2014-2015 season and beyond."

Boggs began his dance career with the Atlanta Ballet. He joined American Ballet Theatre in New York in 1982 and was promoted to soloist dancer in 1984 and principal dancer in 1991. Boggs was a member of the company for 17 years. He also performed with the Twyla Tharp Dance Company, Baryshnikov and Company, Nureyev and Friends, and made several guest appearances around the world.

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