Ballet Des Moines is a ballet company based in Des Moines, Iowa.
| Ballet Des Moines | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Name | Ballet Des Moines |
| Previous names | Ballet Theatre of Des Moines |
| Year founded | 2002 |
| Founding artistic director | Julie Grooters |
| Location | Des Moines, Iowa |
| Principal venue | Hoyt Sherman Place |
| Website | www.balletdesmoines.org |
| Artistic staff | |
| Artistic Director | Tom Mattingly |
History
editThe company was founded in 2002 as the Ballet Theatre of Iowa. Previously, the city had been served for by Ballet Iowa for three decades; however, that company had gone defunct in 1997 following financial mismanagement[1] Ballet Des Moines staged its first show, The Nutcracker, that winter and its first spring show, Swan Lake and Divertimento, the following spring.[2]
In 2005, Serkan Usta, a longtime star of Tulsa Ballet, was named artistic director. In 2006, the company renamed itself Ballet Des Moines. In 2012, the company hired its own professional resident dancers for the first time.[3]
In November, 2021, Tom Mattingly was named Artistic Director of Ballet Des Moines.
Performances
editBallet Des Moines perform at various locations in Des Moines, most often at Hoyt Sherman Place and the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines.
Education and development
editBallet Des Moines II, formed in 2009, is a corps of pre-professional dancers who represent the organization through community outreach events and public performances.[4] In addition, Ballet Des Moines offers classes for students ages 13–18. The annual production of The Nutcracker uses more than 350 local young dancers.[5]
Ballet Des Moines also offers a trainee program for dancers ages 18-24 who are working towards becoming professional dancers. This program gives trainees the opportunity to dance with company as well as hone their skills in order to prepare them for a professional career.[6]
Dancers
editAs of 2023, Ballet Des Moines consists of ten company dancers, two apprentices, and seven trainees:
- Amelia Grubb Hillman
- Logan Hillman
- Chiyo Nishida
- Cameron Miller
- Kate Anderson
- Rune Houchin
- Savannah Cox
- Noah Klarck
- Megan Boyette
- Eddie Kidd
- Andrea Stephanie Mish
- Thomas Montgomery
- Olivia Brown
- Melissa Dahms
- Marissa Doke
- Riley Fenlon
- Cora Miller
- Morgan Montour
- Jordan Powers[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Ready to Leap". 24 July 2012.
- ^ "Ballet des Moines Performance Repertoire || Ballet des Moines". Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2013-10-29.
- ^ "Nonprofit: Ballet des Moines".
- ^ "Ballet des Moines || Ballet des Moines II and Company Structure". Archived from the original on 2013-10-30. Retrieved 2013-10-29.
- ^ "Ballet des Moines Education || Ballet des Moines". Archived from the original on 2013-12-27. Retrieved 2013-10-29.
- ^ "Trainee Program". Ballet Des Moines. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
- ^ "Our Dancers". Ballet Des Moines. Retrieved 2023-11-26.