PBT School: History

After a successful career as a professional ballet dancer in California, Artistic Director Megan Yacko, Executive Director Daniel Goldthwaite and their two children returned home to Colorado Springs in 2000 to be closer to family and share their vision of preparing talented young dancers for careers in ballet. Their vision quickly expanded when they realized that the rapidly growing city was ripe for a professional company of its own. Determined to create a world-class dance school and professional ballet company, Yacko and Goldthwaite assembled a group of passionate artists and talents willing to embark on the journey to develop this dream, in October 2001, The Peak Ballet Theatre was born. With the support of the greater community of Colorado Springs, PBT has created a collaborative haven for young artists and professional dancers. Young artists from PBT II have distinguished themselves by receiving scholarships and acceptance to prestigious schools all over the world such as; The Royal Ballet School, The National Youth Ballet of Great Britain, The San Francisco Ballet School, American Ballet Theatre, The School of American Ballet, The Boston Ballet, Ballet West, The Universal Ballet Academy, The Washington Ballet School, The Rock School for the Pennsylvania Ballet, Harid Conservatory, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Nutmeg Conservatory, Kaatsbaan, The Colorado Ballet, Friends University, The University of Arizona, The Kansas City Ballet, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theatre, Perry-Mansfield Dance, and David Taylor Dance Theatre. Students have received 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards at The Youth America Grand Prix, The Denver Ballet Guild, and The Esther Geoffrey’s Ballet Scholarship competitions.