ballet without barriers
Ballet without Barriers is a new initiative seeking to ensure that Ballet Des Moines’ work is accessible to patrons with disabilities across our community. This company-wide, season-long program creates a library of resources and engagement opportunities that celebrate and explore the different perspectives from which we can approach performance art.
The program will be guided by a new Accessibility Committee comprised of leaders from the disability space, who will confirm that we are building programs that are relevant, inclusive, and universally celebrated by all audiences.
Ballet without Barriers will engage a large and diverse audience through a variety of mediums, allowing for participation at the theater, in the studio, or from home. Plans include adaptive dance classes, written and recorded narratives of each performance, a new sensory-friendly matinee performance of The Nutcracker, and events exploring how our senses impact our experience of art.
ACCESSIBILITY COMMITTEE
Ashlea Lantz, Value Inclusion
Christopher Fears, Iowa School for the Deaf
Wendy Ingham, Variety
Josh Bodden, Ballet Des Moines
Maggie Barsetti, Childserve
Amy Davis, IRIS
Jill Wells, Artist
Daniel Van Sant, Harkin Institute
Ann Ungs, Dance Without Limits, UnityPoint Health - Blank Pediatric Therapy
Maryfrances Evans, IRIS
Karoline Myers, Des Moines Performing Arts
Janet Casson, Des Moines Performing Arts
Interested in sponsoring Ballet without Barriers?
Download our sponsorship proposal or contact Todd Rhoades, Director of Development, at todd@balletdesmoines.org.
BALLET WITHOUT BARRIERS PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
ballet
is for every
body
Ballet is for everyBODY! This season, BDM will begin offering Pilates, Adaptive Dance, and Fundamentals of Movement classes to the public, both on and off-site. These opportunities will extend the transformative power of dance beyond the stage and bring its physical, emotional, and social benefits directly into the lives of those who need it most.
These classes will be appropriate for dancers of all ages and abilities, from older adults managing chronic conditions to those recovering from illness or injury. Participants will experience improvements in mobility, strength, balance, coordination, and confidence, all while fostering self-awareness and a sense of agency in their bodies. By incorporating gentle, low-impact movement rooted in classical and therapeutic practices, these offerings are truly accessible and adaptable to every body.
Classes will include:
Adaptive Dance for Older Adults: Movement for Parkinson’s, Neuropathy, Arthritis & Mobility Challenges, including chair-based classes
Fundamentals of Movement: Repatterning the Body for Strength, Awareness, and Well-Being
Strengthen | Align | Restore: Rooted in classical Mat Pilates, this all-levels class is designed to build core strength, improve postural alignment, increase flexibility, and support whole-body wellness through mindful movement
RESOURCES
BALLET NARRATIVES
Descriptions will be provided for all music and choreography in the 25/26 season: an anticipated 12 transcripts across four productions, created by professional dancers and musicians.
Ballet narration aims to provide visually impaired or blind audience members with detailed descriptions of the visual elements of our ballet performances. This narration includes descriptions of the dancers' movements, costumes, sets, and the overall dramatic action. For the hearing-impaired, written descriptions of each musical score will also be produced, allowing all guests to experience the texture and depth that music adds to our performances.
Click a button below to access the desired descriptions.
PODCAST INTERVIEWS
A series of audio recordings and transcripts will feature in-depth conversations between artists, advocates, and representatives from differently abled communities, diving deeper into the importance of truly accessible and inclusive art.
Listen to our recent podcast episode with Daniel Van Sant, Director of Disability Policy, The Harkin Institute.
