For those who love to bask in the romance of eras gone by, you won’t want to miss: “Ballet Struck: Lillian Covillo and Colorado Ballet,” a special exhibit of vintage dance memorabilia on the main level of DU’s Penrose Library.
The exhibit offers an opportunity to learn about the history of dance in the Rocky Mountain region through programs, clippings, publicity stills, costumes and a 50-year history of the Colorado Ballet.
The exhibit also showcases a tribute video to Covillo, who passed away in November 2010. Covillo was one of the co-founders of Colorado Ballet.
“The display is a beautiful tribute and a nostalgic look at a true Colorado dance legend who began with a desire to perform and teach ballet and ended up creating a professional ballet company … quite remarkable,” says Joan Brown, president of Friends of the Carson-Brierly Dance Library, sponsors of the exhibit.
Kate Crowe, archival processing librarian at Penrose Library and coordinator of the exhibit, explains that the title of the exhibit is a quote from Covillo about the first time she saw ballet. Covillo said, “I just knew this was for me….I was ballet struck!”
“If this exhibit shows even a modicum of Lillian’s passion for dance, her love for this region, and the enormity of her contributions to both, we will have succeeded,” Crowe says.
The exhibit is free and open to the public during library hours from April 22–July 1. For more information about the exhibit, the Carson-Brierly Dance Library or Penrose Library, contact Karen Nozik at 303-871-3958 or karen.nozik@du.edu.