“The arts completely transformed my life. It is my single most important mission to give that same opportunity to as many children in this world as I possibly can.”
— Tracy Straus, Founder & Artistic Director
Our History
2000-2001
The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet hired Tracy Straus to create CTB
150 kids in 5 schools
2001-2003
4-week residency in Aspen
150 kids in 1 school
2003-2004
First expansion: a residency in Crested Butte
250 kids in 2 schools
2004-2006
CTB was established as an independent nonprofit, running programs in rural Colorado.
250 kids in 5 schools
2007-2008
First “Pop Hop” with Vail Dance Festival
300 kids in 3 schools
2008-2009
Established a strong partnership with Vail Valley Foundation
600 kids in 6 schools
2009-2010
Expanded to seven schools in Eagle County
Seeded a program in Mexico
700 kids in 10 schools
2010-2012
Delta County Expansion residencies (Paonia, Hotchkiss, Crawford) while operating in Mexico and Eagle County
1,000 kids in 12 schools
2012 - 2013
First four residencies in Denver with Adams 14, while running rural and Mexico programs
2,000 kids in 15 schools
2013 - 2014
Expanded to serve fourteen schools in Commerce City while running Eagle, rural and Mexico programs
Built a strong after school program
Small summer camps in Aspen and Crested Butte
2,000 kids in 20 schools
2014 - 2015
Expanded to serve fourteen schools in Commerce City while running Eagle, rural and Mexico programs
Built a strong after school program
Small summer camps in Aspen and Crested Butte
3,000 kids in 24 schools
2015 - 2017
Expanded into Denver Public Schools & Westminster Public Schools while running Eagle, rural and Mexico programs
Strengthened after school program
Thriving 6 week summer programs
4,000 kids in 25 schools
2017-2019
Expanded into Denver Public Schools & Westminster Public Schools while running Eagle, rural and Mexico programs
Strengthened after school program
Thriving 6 week summer programs
3,000 kids in 25 schools
2019-2020
Expanded into Denver Public Schools & Westminster Public Schools while running Eagle, rural and Mexico programs
Added virtual programs
4,000 kids in 30 schools
2020-2021
The world changed and we pivoted, adding virtual and Online Courses
Transferred ownership of CTB in Eagle to YP365
Worked through the challenges of the Global Pandemic
Navigated successfully through Staff and Board Leadership Changes
8,000 kids virtually
2021-2022
Worked through the challenges of the Global Pandemic
Navigated successfully through Staff and Board Leadership Changes
Built on partnership with Aurora (Montview)
Added DPS: Smith
Built on new partnership with Littleton Public Schools
Completed the Three-Year Strategic Plan
4,000 kids in 20 schools
2022-2023
Worked through the challenges of the Global Pandemic
Navigated successfully through Staff and Board Leadership Changes
FT programming in Aurora, Littleton, DPS and Westminster
Residencies in Crested Butte, Aspen,
1,225 kids in 10 schools
“Thank you for bringing dance to our school and helping us find ourselves, our love, our joy, our positivity, and our expression. And simultaneously helping us lose our fears, inhibitions, worries, and stress.”