Colorado Ballet Names New Building The Armstrong Center for Dance

Colorado Ballet announced today that they have named Colorado Ballet's new building at 1075 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204 "The Armstrong Center for Dance" in honor of Liz and Bill Armstrong, long-time Colorado Ballet patrons, past trustees, and donors. The new facility for Colorado Ballet opened its doors in late August.

Colorado Ballet purchased the building on Santa Fe Drive in January 2013 and after a year and half of major renovations and a capital campaign moved from their previous home at 1278 Lincoln Street. Liz and Bill Armstrong served as the lead donors on this project. As past trustees, it was always their dream that Colorado Ballet would have its own home.

"We are thrilled to name the new building, The Armstrong Center for Dance," said Liz Armstrong. "After seeing the building, knowing the years of work that went into making this dream happen, this facility is beyond what we could have imagined. Bill and I couldn't be happier to invest in the future of Colorado Ballet and have our name on the facility for decades to come."

Colorado Ballet's new $6.5 million facility hosts rehearsal and training studios as well administrative offices, while performances will continue to take place primarily in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House and Newman Center for the Performing Arts.

"The Armstrong Center for Dance puts Colorado Ballet's company on the national level and enhances the training of the next generation of dancers," said Colorado Ballet's Artistic Director Gil Boggs. "Bill and Liz Armstrong's generous donation to name The Armstrong Center for Dance supports us in owning our own building for the first time in our nearly 54-year history."

The new facility, designed by Denver-based Semple Brown Design, features eight state-of-the-art dance studios for Colorado Ballet's professional Company and the Colorado Ballet Academy. In addition, a multi-use black box theater will function as both a dance studio and performance space equipped with theatrical lighting, sound and telescoping seats for presenting smaller performances and hosting outside groups and their events. Improved amenities for the Company also include locker rooms, showers and a physical therapy room. The new Academy location also includes safer student drop-off and increased parking in the neighborhood for Academy families. Denver-based CMC Group, Inc. was the contractor.

A sign with "The Armstrong Center for Dance" will be added to the outside of the main entrance of the building soon.

"As a former board chair of Colorado Ballet, I've seen the organization transform over the years but this building is a statement to the city of Denver that the ballet is an organization that is here to stay," said Liz Armstrong. "That is very exciting for everyone involved with Colorado Ballet and we can't wait to see the next generation of dancers come out of The Armstrong Center for Dance."

About Colorado Ballet: Established in 1961 by Lillian Covillo and Freidann Parker, Colorado Ballet is a non-profit organization celebrating 54 years of presenting world-class classical ballet and superior dance in Denver. Under the direction of Artistic Director Gil Boggs, Colorado Ballet presents more than 50 performances annually. Colorado Ballet enhances the cultural life of Colorado through performances of the professional company, training at the Academy and Education & Outreach programs. Visit www.coloradoballet.org.

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