Academy of Classical Ballet

No classes will be held during the holiday season from December 21 - January 2
Classes will resume Saturday, January 3

See the December Newsletter for more information

Also note there will be a new Friday morning class and the 11:30am Tuesday/Thursday class has moved to 11:00am

quality ballet training and performance opportunities for dancers
of all ages in the greater Denver area

When my parents first encouraged to me to attend ballet classes, it was only a way for me to get more exercise. Back then at the age of ten, I had not yet begun to appreciate the discipline in this art form, only amazed at its flowing movements and graceful ballerinas. I was fortunate to have attended this unique ballet studio which holds two full-length performances annually that I could be a part of. Each show is created from months of hard work, but afterwards, the feel of gratifying pleasure overcomes all the dancers. For my first performance, I was seen awkwardly prancing around the stage, wearing a little white tutu nonetheless. 

 Over time, I began enjoying going to ballet classes and rehearsals. Naturally, the more I progressed in my technique, the easier the dancing actually became. I had also made many friends at the small little studio who shared the same enthusiasm for dancing that I did. We would all spend consecutive hours over the weekends for rehearsals when performance time was fast approaching. Not only have I made new friends, I will also forever remember the studio’s teachers. They have instilled their love of dance to all their students, including me. Classes are not simply two hours to improve technique, but also intriguing when the teacher digresses from teaching to tell amusing stories from her own experiences. 

 The one day I will always remember was the day I tried on my first pair of pointe shoes. Like any girl waiting anxiously to be able to stand up on her toes, I was both nervous and excited. Dancing on pointe was a whole new experience; besides getting blisters and bleeding toenails, it felt inexplicably remarkable to be standing on solely a small piece of wood. I have to admit that after that first pointe class, I never wanted to look at another pointe shoe again, and it has been only recently that I have begun to enjoy the experience. Suffering from sore toes and burning blisters is certainly not a great feeling to have, but I have learned to endure the pain and practice hard to be able to perform my best. 

Ballet has accompanied me through my childhood, taking me from that first performance to dancing in bigger roles.Dancing the role of Clara in the 2007 NUTCRACKER was a very rewarding experience. The extra time spent at the ballet studio made me feel that the Academy of Classical Ballet was my second home! I saw how the younger dancers looked up to "Clara" and was pressured to dance the role to my best ability. I felt very nervous each performance and was afraid of any possible "mess-ups" like forgetting some part of my costume or having a pointe shoe ribbon come untied on stage! Fortunately, the shows were successful and I was proud to be a part of yet another wonderful Nutcracker.

Ballet has influenced who I am and the movements I have learned as well as the lessons I have come to discover while dancing will accompany me wherever I go. These seven years, I have worked with the same group of people toward a similar goal and seen what commitment and hard work can produce. 

My time at the Academy of Classical Ballet will be greatly cherished when I leave for college in the fall of 2008.

        ~Sue Huang

Academy of Classical Ballet
303/420-5613