Ballet Des Moines

The 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{{Cite web|url=http://www.dsmmagazine.com/2012/07/24/ready-to-leap/|title = Ready to Leap|date = 24 July 2012}} Ballet Des Moines staged its first show, The Nutcracker, that winter and its first spring show, Swan Lake and Divertimento, the following spring.{{cite web|url=http://balletdesmoines.org/past-performances/ |title=Ballet des Moines Performance Repertoire || Ballet des Moines |access-date=2013-10-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221043158/http://balletdesmoines.org/past-performances/ |archive-date=2014-02-21 }}

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.{{Cite web|url=http://businessrecord.com/Content/Culture/Culture/Article/Nonprofit--Ballet-Des-Moines/170/832/41094|title = Nonprofit: Ballet des Moines}}

In November, 2021, Tom Mattingly was named Artistic Director of Ballet Des Moines.

Ballet Des Moines perform at various locations in Des Moines, most often at Hoyt Sherman Place and the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines.

Ballet Des Moines II, formed in 2009, is a corps of pre-professional dancers who represent the organization through community outreach events and public performances.{{Cite web |url=http://balletdesmoines.org/about/ballet-des-moines-ii/ |title=Ballet des Moines || Ballet des Moines II and Company Structure |access-date=2013-10-29 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131030100011/http://balletdesmoines.org/about/ballet-des-moines-ii/ |archive-date=2013-10-30 |url-status=dead }} 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.{{Cite web |url=http://balletdesmoines.org/education/ |title=Ballet des Moines Education || Ballet des Moines |access-date=2013-10-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227033148/http://balletdesmoines.org/education/ |archive-date=2013-12-27 |url-status=dead }}

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.{{Cite web |title=Trainee Program |url=https://www.balletdesmoines.org/trainee-program |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Ballet Des Moines |language=en-US}}

As 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{{Cite web |title=Our Dancers |url=https://www.balletdesmoines.org/dancers |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Ballet Des Moines |language=en-US}}

• List of ballet companies in the United States

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• [http://balletdesmoines.org/ Ballet Des Moines Official Site]

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Category:Ballet companies in the United States

Category:2002 establishments in Iowa

Category:Performing groups established in 2002

Category:Dance in Iowa

Category:Culture of Des Moines, Iowa