Kate Walsh Honea and her former husband and business partner Dex Honea became co-owners of the Colorado Ballet Society and its subsidiaries in August 2021. Both former professional dancers, the couple bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in dance along with plans for expansion of the program. They hosted an open house at their Briargate location on July 16 from 1-4 p.m.
Colorado Ballet Society Gains a Wealth of Experience
“Dex and I both come from professional ballet backgrounds and trained with conservatories,” Walsh Honea explained. “We wanted to bring that experience to Colorado Springs.”
Walsh Honea began dancing when she was just 3 years old. “My older sister began dancing and I wanted to follow her path,” she said. “When I was 9 years- old I auditioned for ‘The Nutcracker’ with the Miami City Ballet. I got the most famous lead role for a child.”
The couple ultimately began performing together and that’s how they met. They both joined the Sarasota Ballet Company in Florida in 2002. Walsh Honea was a professional dancer with them for 19 years. The two have family members in Colorado Springs and would come to the area for vacations. In 2016, Walsh Honea saw a sign promoting the Colorado Ballet Society production of “The Nutcracker.” “I reached out and told them (Colorado Ballet Society) that Dex and I would be coming out on occasion and would like to teach,” Walsh Honea explained. “She took a leap of faith on us. We taught and performed in ‘The Nutcracker’ here. I was the Sugar Plum Fairy and Dex was Drosselmeyer. We performed in both 2017 and 2018.”
Legacy of Quality Dance Performance
The Colorado Ballet Society has been a prominent source of quality dance performance in Southern Colorado since 1997. Former students have gone on to dance with world-renowned schools, trainee programs, and companies including the American Ballet Theatre, English National Ballet, Colorado Ballet, and The Czech National Ballet.
For the past 24 years, the Colorado Ballet Society and its pre-professional performing ensemble have been serving aspiring dancers from as young as 2 years old to professionals. The studio has been voted “Best in the Springs” for eight years and has won numerous local awards. Its subsidiaries include the Ballerina Boutique, Elevate Productions, and both the Briargate and Falcon locations.
“We have over 550 students and this is our career and sole focus,” Walsh Honea explained. “I’m the artistic director and Dex is the executive director. I make the decisions about casting, performances and curriculum. Dex is responsible for the daily operations and management of the schools.”
The two have started some of the many expansions they are planning. This includes the addition of a seventh studio that will be used for conditioning classes, acrobatic classes, and more. There’s a new Sparkle Lounge, which features a mural by local artist Madison Busi. Other plans include moving shows to professional venues like Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts, creating a world-renowned dance company, and creating even better student programming throughout the Springs area. They are also bringing back former Colorado Springs students who have made big names for themselves to teach, including internationally acclaimed dancer Angela Wood.
“We are also celebrating our 25th Anniversary season of Colorado Ballet Society,” Walsh Honea said. “We will be hosting a Gala on April 22 celebrating the anniversary at the Pikes Peak Performing Arts Center where we will present the full-length ‘Don Quixote.’”
The rewards to being able to do what she loves are many, Walsh Honea explained. “It’s always been a dream come true to have my own ballet school and pass on my experience to others.” For complete information about the Colorado Ballet Society, visit www.DanceInTheSprings.com or call 719-272-7078.
