Check Out Sandra & Mark Carlson’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra & Mark Carlson. Them and their team share their story with us below:

Mark Carlson came to Denver after retiring from his professional ballet career of twenty years in Europe and Canada. He developed a following of ballet students who wanted consistent training to pursue a professional career. In 1998 a group of parents encouraged him to start his school and training program. He opened the International Ballet school to support the students’ dreams. of becoming dancers. He remains committed to this mission to this day.

In 2000 his wife Sandra joined the school after the birth of their son. Sandra brought her experience as a professional dancer in the US and Europe to develop the training program along with Mark. Because Sandra is a costume and set designer as well as a former dancer, she was able to use her creative skills to develop full-length productions that allow Colorado’s youth ballet Company to perform for the Denver metro community.

The school has grown from one small studio to the current three studios in 6000 square feet in Centennial. The school has had many locations over years, including above a restaurant in downtown Littleton, which drove the customers crazy with the loud jumping, to the highest point in Denver at the top of the former Teikyo Loretto Heights college which their son called the “Castle Ballet School.”

The training program spans from pre-ballet to pre-professional for ages 3 to 18. International Ballet School is recognized as one of the top schools in the country. POINTE Magazine noted, “the school produces stylistically versatile dancers with strong classical technique.” In keeping with the mission of the school to provide quality training, classes are kept small for individual attention. Teachers are of professional caliber with years of experience dedicated to inspiring students to excellence.

Students of the school have been awarded for their excellence in ballet at competitions including YAGP and USA IBC. They consistently receive scholarships to prestigious ballet schools around the world. Alumni have had successful careers at major ballet companies such as San Francisco Ballet, Ballet West, Tulsa Ballet, Houston Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Estonia National Ballet, and Dresden Semper Oper to name a few. Students have also taken their training and experience to university and college dance programs while pursuing their academic and dance degrees.

An important part of the training program is developing the artist as well as the dancer through performance. Students of all levels participate in at least two full-scale professional productions each year such as The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan at the Newman Center at DU. Daily class is such hard work, but performing, that’s the magic that inspires the student to develop a work ethic, dedication, and self-confidence. International Ballet School is a family, and we welcome everyone to join us!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Building a business over 25 years always comes with obstacles and challenges. The largest challenge was the COVID pandemic. Not only did the studio move at the beginning of 2020, but it also faced all the difficult changes that social distancing created. Daily classes moved to virtual via ZOOM, with students dancing in their kitchen, basement, garage, bathroom, driveway, or wherever they could find space.

At the beginning of the pandemic, the school cut pieces of plastic dance flooring to give the students a surface to dance on at home. Through this, the school found creative solutions to keep our students developing and engaged. The loss of dancing together, in person, and on stage was devastating for everyone. Finding a way to present the annual Nutcracker by video with social distancing was challenging, and ultimately successful. The pandemic gave the school a new appreciation for our space, students, parents, and doing what we love!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What we have learned after 25 years is that we teach our students to “DREAM BIG!” Our students learn dedication, hard work, confidence, creativity, and overcoming obstacles. These are the life lessons we teach through dance.

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
As a nine-year-old my mother got tickets to Swan Lake danced by American Ballet Theatre at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. I knew it was a special occasion because I had to wear my nice dress and my mother and Grandmother got all dressed up and we drove the two-hour trip to downtown LA.! Walking into the theatre I was so impressed with the red velvet current, gold proscenium, and the grandeur of old-world theatre.

The lights went out, the orchestra played the overture of the most beautiful music, the curtain opened, and… MAGIC!!! I fell in love with the beauty of the dance, the music, the costumes the theatricality of the ballet. The story was sad and powerful and emotional and It filled my heart, I wanted to be that dancer expressing all those emotions on stage, bringing the story with no words to life. It lit a fire in me to become a ballet dancer. I have never looked back since then.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://internationalballetschool.net/
• Instagram: @internationalballetschool
• Facebook: @internationalballetschool

Image Credits
Xan Khong