ANNOUNCING RESILIENCE

While dance companies around the world are cancelling in-person rehearsals and productions, at Ballet Des Moines we are committed to keeping art alive in our community.  We are excited to announce our virtual fall season: Resilience. As a small company, we have the unique opportunity to continue our work while keeping our artists safe, minimizing exposure but still producing new works. We are thrilled to announce new partnerships with other local groups who share our vision to strengthen our city’s vibrant, creative community through inspirational, world-class art.

The 20-21 season includes collaborations with some of Des Moines’ most talented musicians: a world premiere production in partnership with the Belin Quartet, light-hearted and romantic jazz performed by Max Wellman and his band, and a new contemporary ballet set to the music of Schubert, performed by the Roseman Quartet based in Ames, IA.  

In line with ballet companies around the world, Ballet Des Moines’ Nutcracker will not appear on the stage this December, but the holiday magic will live on through a variety of virtual Nutcracker experiences, available later this fall. Young dancers will have the opportunity to learn choreography through online tutorials, receive costumes to create their own performance at home, have a tea party with the Sugarplum Fairy, and gain access to exclusive performance footage so the entire family can be part of the experience.

We are heartbroken not to be welcoming our community of nearly 400 dancers from 40 local studios to participate in our annual production of The Nutcracker, but it is exciting to have the opportunity to get creative and share this beloved holiday tradition with an even broader audience of young artists.

Regarding the choreography planned, Artistic Director Serkan Usta said, “We’re very excited for this ambitious season ahead. We’re creating a lot of new work and visiting some contemporary favorites. We have retained strong dancers and are welcoming three new dancers to our company and community. We are excited to get to work, creatively, and most importantly, safely.”

Ballet Des Moines remains committed to its vision to be an integral part of our vibrant arts community by delivering excellence in ballet performance and offering people of all ages an opportunity to experience world-class ballet. 

To help support the success of Ballet Des Moines’ upcoming season, including its dancers and virtual productions, please consider donating to our Resilience Fund today.