The Denver Academy of Ballet was established in the summer of 2001 to offer the best technical training available to both students interested in pursuing a career in classical ballet and those who simply wish to study this art form.
For both, in doing so, the Academy encourages many things such as technical skill, enjoyment, self-esteem, musicality, and personal growth. Our training is based on the Vaganova (Russian) Method of Ballet. This method has been in existence since the 1920´s, when Agrippina Vaganova joined the French and Italian methods of ballet to create a more complete method. Vaganova is a building block method, which matures with the mind and the body as the dancer is able to accomplish the particular movements. Through this syllabus, we intend to build artistry, self-confidence, joy, and integrity in your child, as well as respect for the art form, each other, one´s goals, and a grander sense of community. Our jazz and hip hop classes follow similar growth techniques.
Academy founder and instructor Bridget McShain Matuschek has professionally danced for 12 years, performing soloist roles with most notably the Berlin Opera Ballet and the Colorado Ballet. Bridget has trained at American Ballet Theatre and Joffrey School of Ballet in New York, and under John White and Margarita de Sa‡ of The Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet. Here she has extensively studied the Vaganova Method both as an instructor and as a student and is a fully qualified Vaganova teacher.
Our teachers are all professional and highly qualified. Young children begin in our dance classes classes which serve as an introduction of movement and music. Teens and adults enjoy ballet, jazz, and hip hop classes. Stop in for a visti!