From muralism and sculptural work to theater productions and protest songs, art played a central role in the national Chicano Civil Rights movement. In Denver, the Crusade for Justice — an organization that embraced liberation through political, educational, social, and cultural means — was heavily structured around the arts, as seen here with its Ballet Chicano de Aztlán dance troupe. Some young women and men who were part of the Crusade For Justice traveled to Mexico to study with the Ballet Folklórico Nacional de México and bring that knowledge back to their Denver community.
A Celebration of Art in Denver's Chicano Civil Rights Movement
Posted on March 4, 2024 | Updated on September 30, 2025
Bree Davies
Teenage members of the Ballet Chicano de Aztlán, 1970. (Denver Public Libraries Special Collection / AUR-2276)
Share article
Stay connected to City Cast Denver and get ready to join the local conversation.
A Day In Denver History
A Day In Denver HistoryJanuary 12
Remembering Denver's Barbecue Riot of 1898
And its full-circle moment at this year's National Western Stock Show
A Day In Denver HistoryNovember 6, 2025
Why Denverites Honor 'Daddy Bruce' Randolph Every Thanksgiving
He was a model for community-level philanthropy, serving families in need across the Mile High City.
A Day In Denver HistoryOctober 7, 2025
Denver Quiz: Mile High Hauntings
How well do you know Denver's spookiest spots?
A Day In Denver HistorySeptember 15, 2025
A Denver Landmark Celebrates 150 Years
Looking back at a century-and-a-half of one of Denver's oldest education institutions.
A Day In Denver HistorySeptember 8, 2025
The History of Denver's Evans School Building
How this historic building went from an elementary school to a modern beer hall and event space.
A Day In Denver HistoryAugust 4, 2025
Where Denver's Most Beautiful Greenspaces Came From
Here's how one man's touch shaped how we experience the outdoors today.
A Day In Denver HistoryJuly 22, 2025
Denver Quiz: Do You Know These Denver Mayors?
A Day In Denver HistoryJune 18, 2025
The History of Lincoln Hills
The latest in Denver
Keep It Local
Best Bike Shops in Denver
Sponsored
Best Online Casinos for Real Money You Can Trust Today
Find the best online casinos for real money with fast payouts, big bonuses, and top games. Compare sites and start playing now.
Keep It LocalJune 11
Why Denverites Love Campus Cycles
Denver, ExplainedJune 11
Denver's Biking Community Sends a Clear Message: More Lanes, More Protection, and More Safe Streets
Keep It LocalJune 4
LGBTQ+ Owned Shops in Denver
These are the best places in Denver for Pride Month.
Keep It LocalJune 4
Why Denverites Love Art Club Coffee
Why Art Club Coffee is one of Denver's best queer-owned spaces.
Denver's BestJune 2
Your Guide to Denver in June 2026
Recommendations of the best things to do in Denver this June.
Denver's BestJune 2
Denver's Best Summertime Water Hangs
Here's how to spend some time on the water and cool off this summer.
