Colyer City, Kansas, sits in the southwest corner of the state, a rural community of roughly 1,400 people surrounded by wheat fields and open prairie. It is not the place most would expect to find a pair of toe shoes. Yet for families within Greeley County and the surrounding High Plains region, several serious ballet training options exist—some right in town, others within a reasonable drive across the Kansas-Colorado border. Whether your child is taking their first plié or you're a teen auditioning for summer intensives, this guide breaks down the actual programs available, what they cost, and how to choose between them.
How We Evaluated These Schools
We selected programs based on four criteria relevant to dancers in rural western Kansas:
- Geographic accessibility to Colyer City residents (roughly 60 minutes or less by car)
- Classical ballet curriculum with a clear progression from beginner to advanced levels
- Performance opportunities that build stage experience and résumé material
- Faculty credentials with professional training or company experience
All tuition figures and program details were drawn from publicly available school websites and verified through direct outreach in early 2024. Drive times are calculated from downtown Colyer City.
Colyer City Ballet Academy
Distance: In town
Founded: 1987
Artistic Director: Margaret Chen, former soloist with American Ballet Theatre
Best for: Pre-professional students ages 12–18 and serious younger dancers
The Colyer City Ballet Academy is the only studio in Greeley County offering a dedicated pre-professional track. Housed in a converted 1920s church on Main Street, the school keeps its original hardwood floors, raised stage, and stained-glass windows—an atmospheric if unconventional training space.
Chen founded the academy after retiring from ABT in the mid-1980s and settling in Kansas with her husband, a wheat researcher. Her curriculum follows the Vaganova method, with students placed by level rather than age. The pre-professional division meets six days per week during the academic year and requires a minimum of three years of prior training for admission.
Notable programs:
- Pre-Professional Track: 15–20 hours of weekly technique, pointe, variations, and partnering
- Summer Intensive: A three-week program in July with guest faculty from Denver and Kansas City ballet companies
- Performance Calendar: Two full-length productions annually at the Colyer Community Theater, including The Nutcracker each December and a spring classical or contemporary ballet
Tuition: $285–$425 per month for the pre-professional division; recreational classes run $75–$125 per month
Alumni outcomes: Dancers from the academy have gone on to trainee positions with Kansas City Ballet II, Ballet Arkansas, and regional companies in Colorado and Oklahoma. Recent graduate Elena Voss joined Oklahoma City Ballet's studio company in 2022.
The Dance Center of Colyer City
Distance: In town
Founded: 2001
Director: Rebecca Hartwell, BFA in Dance Performance from University of Kansas
Best for: Recreational dancers, multi-genre students, and children ages 3–14
Located in a small commercial strip near the Colyer City library, the Dance Center takes a broader approach than its across-town counterpart. Hartwell's program treats ballet as one pillar of a well-rounded dance education alongside jazz, tap, modern, and musical theater.
Ballet classes follow a RAD-influenced syllabus through approximately Level 5, after which students who want pre-professional training typically transfer to the Colyer City Ballet Academy or commute to larger programs. The faculty includes three full-time instructors with certifications in youth dance education and injury prevention.
Notable programs:
- Creative Movement and Pre-Ballet: Classes for ages 3–7 emphasizing musicality, coordination, and classroom etiquette
- Triple Threat Track: A combined ballet, jazz, and voice program for students interested in musical theater
- Annual Recital: A single end-of-year showcase at the Greeley County High School auditorium
Tuition: $65–$110 per month depending on weekly class load; unlimited multi-genre pass available for $195 per month
Distinctive strength: The school's child-development focus makes it especially popular with families who want a low-pressure introduction to dance. Several graduates have gone on to BFA musical theater programs, including one recent acceptance to Oklahoma City University.
Kansas City Ballet School – South Campus (Wichita)
Distance: ~58 miles / 1 hour 10 minutes southeast
Founded: 1997 (South Campus opened 2014)
Best for: Advanced students ready for professional-track training in a company-affiliated school
No article about serious ballet training near Colyer City can ignore the Kansas City Ballet School
