Who can say no to tights, costumes, a tutu, and pointed shoes? For the first time on Western’s campus, a performance from a group of dancers in the Colorado Ballet was held in Taylor Auditorium at Taylor Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 6. This event was mainly sponsored by Western’s Honors Program, in order to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Other departments that helped with funding include the Music, Art, Education, and Communication Arts, Languages and Literature departments. This performance was free and open to Western students and faculty, community members from the Gunnison Valley, and students from Gunnison elementary, middle, and high schools. The host, Colorado Ballet Education Department Manager Emily Aalbers, encouraged interactivity by engaging with the audience throughout the performance. Asking questions about dance and explaining the different eras the dancers would be moving through. The first era introduced was the romantic era. Dancers in this category performed an excerpt from “Don Quixote”— a middle-aged man from Spain who was obsessed with books about chivalry and decided to make himself a knight. On his many adventures he fell in love with a woman by the name of Dulcinea del Toboso. The second and third performances were a representation of the classic era. In this section dancers performed excerpts from “Peter Pan,” in which the audience witnessed a fight between the young boy Peter Pan and the evil Captain Hook. They wore costumes, had toy swords, and the dancer portraying Captain Hook wore a hook. While battling, the two men also had facial expressions that showed the audience the intensity of their determination or defeat. Dancers also performed an excerpt from “The Nutcracker,” in which the audience saw the nutcracker, Prince Eric, and young Clara dancing. The last era was the modern era. In this portion, two female dancers soloed wearing tights, pointe shoes, and a tutu—one white, and one pale yellow. These dancers weren’t constricted to perform from a play or novel, but to free style with soft, fluid movements. They danced blissfully with ease and with grace. After the show finished, Aalbers had the dancers line up on stage and introduced themselves and said how long they’ve been dancing. After the w introductions, the floor was open for questioning. Questions ranged from how much work they put into dancing— they practice five days a week— to how long their shoes last and how much they cost. Once the questions were done, the dancers invited people from the audience to join them on stage and teach them a few ballet moves. If you wish to learn more about the Colorado Ballet, visit their website at coloradoballet.org.