When little Caitlin entered the world 23 years ago today, her mother was ecstatic that a baby girl had joined the family.

"Mom was worried that a boy from our family would be constantly teased about being born on Valentine's Day," the petite Colorado Ballet dancer said with a smile.

Valentine is Caitlin's last name,so today is, indeed, Valentine's day.

Since this is her birthday, she is looking forward to good wishes from her friends and fellow dancers - and to gifts from her own valentine, Christopher Ellis.

"I always buy her two cards and give her separate presents," said Ellis, also a dancer with Colorado Ballet. Gazing lovingly at his best gal as they visited at company headquarters, it was obvious he didn't mind the extra expense.

To make this cuddly Valentine's Day story complete, the couple plans to marry in April.

"No way we'd schedule it on Feb. 14," Ellis, 24, said with a laugh.

The dancers are in their second season as members of the corps de ballet - the supporting cast in productions - but each has had time in the spotlight. In last year's Nutcracker, he danced as the Prince, she as Clara.

Later this month, they'll appear in Colorado Ballet's performances of Midsummer Night's Dream at the Opera House. Appropriately, the couple will dance the lovers Lysander and Hermia, characters who are betrothed in the final scene.

"We do get married onstage in the ballet," Ellis said. "But we won't be doing that for real in the theater."

Instead, the two will tie the knot at St. Elizabeth's Church, followed by a reception at the Brown Palace and a honeymoon in Hawaii.

While Hermia and Lysander will exchange vows to Mendelssohn's famous Wedding March, Valentine and Ellis will use a mix of Baroque favorites.

The couple met in Florida while members of the corps with Orlando Ballet. Her family had moved to Orlando when she was 8, and she trained at the company's school before joining at age 16 in 2002. The following season, Ellis arrived after years of training in Atlanta.

"At that point, Chris was just a company member," Valentine recalled. "We were friends for a couple of years. I never thought I'd date a dancer. I didn't think I could be with someone like that all day long."

After 18 months of hanging out, it got serious, and the two moved in together.

When each got an offer to join Colorado Ballet, they found a place just outside Denver and settled in with their dog, Franklin. In September 2007, Ellis proposed.

Valentine and Ellis are mindful of the fragile personalities of dancers.

"We are all a little bit crazy," she agreed. "But Chris and I never get on each other's nerves. I'm pretty supportive of him and his dancing career. When he danced the Prince (in Nutcracker), I was watching in the wings. And he'd be there when I danced Clara."

Dance is very much a focus of their professional lives, but not their private ones. "When we're at home, we leave work behind," Ellis said. "It's not a house rule that we don't talk ballet. We just don't."

Grabbing his fiancee's hand, he makes his priorities clear: "I don't love Caitlin because she's a dancer - it's because of her as a person."

And you can draw a giant Valentine's heart around that.

Marc Shulgold is the music and dance writer. Shulgoldm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5296

Marriage on the Rocks

At noon today, couples are invited to exchange marriage vows (or renew their vows) at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Couples should gather at the top of the amphitheatre, where KBPI-FM personality Uncle Nasty will officiate for the second consecutive year.

Red Rocks' on-site restaurant, Ship Rock Grille, is offering a four-course Valentine's Day dinner package and bottle of champagne for $100 a couple. Information: 303-697-4939, ext. 111.

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