In 2008-2009, Colorado Ballet celebrates its 48th season of bringing world-class quality dance to Colorado. As one of the state's oldest and most successful arts institutions, Colorado Ballet is the only organization of its size and stature to produce classical ballet. Colorado Ballet is a nationally recognized regional dance company that was conceived as a ballet school, and founded in 1951, by Denver natives Freidann Parker and Lillian Covillo. To showcase their talented students, the life-long friends established Colorado Concert Ballet in 1961. The company presented its very first production of The Nutcracker at the Bonfils Theater in Denver to sell-out audiences.