our DANCERS

  • BLAISE HOUCHIN (He/HIM)

    APPRENTICE

    Read Bio

  • ELIANNA PRICE (SHE/HER)

    APPRENTICE

    Read Bio

TRAINEES

BDM TRAINEE PROGRAM

LEARN MORE

COMPANY DANCER INTERVIEWS

Get to know our dancers in our Beyond the Barre video series

kate anderson

Originally from Kansas City, Kate trained and performed with Kansas City Ballet, Ballet Austin, and Richmond Ballet before coming to Ballet Des Moines. Kate’s favorite roles include Tchaikovsky Pas De Deux, Turning Girl in Who Cares?, and Theme and Variations (all Balanchine), Crystalline (Alvis), Duty (Archibald), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Anastos), Swan Lake (Beriozoff), and Strung (Tom Mattingly). This is Kate’s fifth season with Ballet Des Moines.

Back to Company Dancers

megan boyette

Originally from Charlotte, NC, Megan began her studies at Charlotte Ballet under the direction of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride. Her favorite roles with Ballet Des Moines have been Titania in Peter Anastos' A Midsummer Night's Dream and Lady Capulet in Tom Mattingly’s Romeo and Juliet. Prior to joining BDM, Megan performed and toured professionally with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Ballet West, and BalletMet, dancing in full-scale productions of Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella & Adam Sklute’s Swan Lake, as well as multiple world premieres by Edwaard Liang. Megan is honored to be a Jacob’s Pillow Alumni, having worked closely with program director/choreographer Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa. This is Megan’s fourth season with the company. 

Back to Company Dancers

Savannah Cox

Originally from Kansas, Savannah trained at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, and Topeka Ballet and danced professionally with Tulsa Ballet, Louisville Ballet, and Eugene Ballet Company before coming to Des Moines. Professional highlights include performing in Who Cares? (Balanchine), as Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Anastos), in In the Middle Somewhat Elevated (Forsythe), and as Benvolia in Romeo & Juliet (Mattingly). This is Savannah’s fifth season with Ballet Des Moines.

Back to Company Dancers

Gabriel Hartman

Gabriel grew up in Roselawn, IN, training at Indiana Ballet Theatre and A&A Ballet, Chicago.  Gabe joins Ballet Des Moines after holding positions at Milwaukee Ballet and Indianapolis Ballet. Gabe’s favorite role since joining Ballet Des Moines is Strung (Tom Mattingly). This is Gabe’s second season with Ballet Des Moines.

Back to Company Dancers

Amelia Grubb Hillman

Amelia has called Iowa home since joining Ballet Des Moines as a company dancer in 2016. Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, she completed her training on scholarships at the Kirov Academy of Ballet and the Akhmedova Ballet Academy. In addition to her 10 year career with Ballet Des Moines, Amelia has performed nationally and internationally with National Choreographer’s Initiative, English National Ballet, Richmond Ballet, the Washington Ballet, and Columbia Classical Ballet. Some of her most cherished moments on stage have been in the role of Cinderella, Christopher Wheeldon’s Je Ne T’aime Pas, and performing the title roles in Tom Mattingly’s Romeo & Juliet with her husband, Logan Hillman. 

Back to Company Dancers

Logan Hillman

Originally from northern Virginia, this year will be Logan’s seventh season with Ballet Des Moines. After completing his training at the Kirov Academy of Ballet and Akhmedova Ballet Academy, he worked professionally for the Columbia Classical Ballet, Richmond Ballet, and Nashville Ballet before joining Ballet Des Moines in 2019. Favorite works include dancing in Who Cares? (Balanchine), Sech Tanze (Kylián), Sgt. Early's Dream (Bruce), Swipe and The Lottery (both Caniparoli), and as Romeo in Romeo & Juliet (Mattingly) with his wife, Amelia.

Back to Company Dancers

Rune Houchin

Rune began his ballet training at the age of 11, moved from Colorado to Arizona to train at Master Ballet Academy before starting the trainee program at Tulsa Ballet. Prior to joining Ballet Des Moines, Rune appeared on stage with Tulsa Ballet, Fokine Ballet, and Phoenix Ballet. Rune’s favorite roles include Tchaikovsky Pas De Deux (Balanchine), Cavalier and Snow King in The Nutcracker, and Lysander and Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Anastos). This is Rune’s fifth season at Ballet Des Moines.

Back to Company Dancers

Eddie Kidd

Born in Boston, MA, Eddie trained with Boston Ballet School and the Cincinnati Ballet Professional Training Division, receiving notable awards including the Nancy Hebben and William Milberg Scholarship. Following his training, Eddie joined Ballet Des Moines as an Apprentice in 2022, before being promoted to Company Dancer in 2023. Eddie’s favorite roles include the Spring Waters Pas de Deux (Messerer), Valse Fantasie (Balanchine), and Mr. Hyde in Jekyll & Hyde (Mattingly). This is Eddie’s fourth season with Ballet Des Moines.

Back to Company Dancers

Noah Klarck

Noah’s formal dance training began at Interlochen Arts Academy, where he studied from 2013 to 2017. He continued his education at the University of Oklahoma, earning a BFA in Ballet Performance. During his senior year, he danced with Oklahoma City Ballet’s Studio Company. Noah joined Ballet Des Moines as a company dancer in the fall of 2021 and is now entering his fifth season. His favorite roles include Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Anastos), Bugle Boy in Paul Taylor’s Company B, The Principal Man in Alejandro Cerrudo’s Lickety Split, and Shanon Alvis’s Crystalline. In addition to performing, Noah has spent several summers teaching Ballet, Pointe, and Men’s classes at Interlochen Arts Camp—an experience he finds deeply rewarding.

Back to Company Dancers

Cameron Miller

Cameron trained on full scholarship with Kansas City Ballet and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Before joining Ballet Des Moines in the spring of 2021, Cameron danced with American Midwest Ballet and Ballet Vero Beach. Cameron’s favorite roles include The American (Wheeldon), Duty (Archibald), and Dr. Jekyll in Jekyll & Hyde (Mattingly), Theseus/Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Anastos), and most recently Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet (Mattingly). This will be Cameron’s fifth full season as a company dancer this year.

Back to Company Dancers

Chiyo Nishida

Originally from Osaka Japan, Chiyo studied at Homura Tomoi Ballet School before receiving their BFA in Dance Performance and minor in Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Butler University. Chiyo’s notable roles include “Puck” in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Anastos) and the Principal role in Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Mattingly). They have also enjoyed performing in Duty (Archibald), Crystalline (Alvis), and the pas de deux from The American (Wheeldon). This is Chiyo’s fifth season with Ballet Des Moines.

Back to Company Dancers

Jordan Powers

Hailing from Texas, Jordan trained at the Austin Dance Conservatory and won Top 15 at ADCIBC 2022 and 2023 in both classical and contemporary, as well as reaching the YAGP finals in 2021, 2022, and 2023. She enjoyed dancing the role of Kitri in Don Quixote, the role of Dewdrop in The Nutcracker, and performing in Four Seasons (Mattingly). This will be Jordan’s second season with Ballet Des Moines, after spending one year as a company Trainee.

Back to Company Dancers

Blaise Houchin

Blaise was born in Fort Collins, CO and trained at Cary Ballet Conservatory where he performed several lead roles, including Snow King and Sugar Plum Cavalier in The Nutcracker, Principal in Who Cares? (Balanchine), and as the King of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland (Bahr). This will be Blaise’s first season as an apprentice with Ballet Des Moines.

Back to Apprentices

Elianna Price

Elianna hails from Rochester, NY, and trained at Odasz Dance Theater, Texas Ballet Theater, and Ballet Austin. Thus far in her career, her favorite role has been The Bird in Peter and the Wolf (O’Keefe). Ellie’s dream role is to perform Swanilda in Coppelia. This will be Ellie’s second season as an apprentice with Ballet Des Moines.

Back to Apprentices

EVELYN BEARD

Evelyn is originally from Morgantown, West Virginia. She has trained at BalletMet, the Hungarian Dance University, and University of North Carolina School of the Arts where she graduated with her BFA in Dance. Her favorite role thus far has been Snow Queen in The Nutcracker (Kozadayev). This will be Evelyn’s first season as a Trainee with Ballet Des Moines.

Back to Trainees

Judith Bruggeman

Judith, a Des Moines native, completed her pre graduate classical ballet training in Kansas City, earning several merit scholarships and YAGP placements. She attended Summer Intensives there, as well as at Pacific Northwest Ballet and Miami City Ballet. Last season, Judith enjoyed dancing multiple roles in The Nutcracker and Romeo & Juliet (both Mattingly). Judith is proud to teach ballet to young dancers in BDM’s partnership with SEEDS as well as BDM's Community Classes. In her off time, Judith is pursuing her degree online in Early Childhood Education with an emphasis on Special Education. This is Judith's second season as a Trainee with Ballet Des Moines.

Back to Trainees

SCOUT CLAUSSEN

Scout was born in Des Moines and trained at Des Moines Danzarts, Kansas City Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Joffrey Chicago, and most recently in Milwaukee Ballet’s Pre-Professional Program. Scout’s favorite role to date is the Bridesmaids Variation in Don Quixote. This is Scout’s first season as a Trainee with Ballet Des Moines.  

Back to Trainees

TESS COGLEY

Tess is from Arlington, Virginia, and trained at BalletNova Center for Dance, American Ballet Theatre, and University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where she graduated with her BFA in May 2025. Her favorite role so far is the Firebird from Firebird. This will be Tess’s first season as a Trainee with Ballet Des Moines.

Back to Trainees

Brock Duhachek

Brock is from Council Bluffs, IA and trained at the Heartland Conservatory of Dance, the JCC dance program, Bloom dance studio, and Smitty’s Performing Arts. Brock’s favorite roles include Rat King and Grandfather in The Nutcracker and in Romeo and Juliet (Mattingly) This is Brock’s second season as a Trainee with Ballet Des Moines.  

Back to Trainees

Joleen Gamez

Joleen was born in West Des Moines, and trained at The Pointe Academy before attending the University of Kansas. Joleen received her AA from DMACC and graduated with a BA in Mass Communications and Media Studies from Arizona State University.  Joleen has enjoyed performing multiple roles in The Nutcracker, a favorite being Mouse King, as well as dancing in Romeo & Juliet (Mattingly). This will be Joleen’s second season as a Trainee with Ballet Des Moines.

Back to Trainees

REN LIVINGSTON

Ren is from Omaha, Nebraska, and trained at Omaha Academy of Ballet and Kansas City Ballet. Ren’s favorite role thus far in her career has been Flora in The Awakening of Flora. This is Ren’s first season as a Trainee with Ballet Des Moines.

Back to Trainees

Sophia Millen

Originally from Minnetonka, Minnesota, Sophia has trained at CREO Arts & Dance Conservatory, Next Generation Ballet, St. Paul Ballet, and Oklahoma City Ballet. She has performed roles such as Dew Drop Fairy in The Nutcracker (Creo Arts) and Swan Corps in Swan Lake. This is Sophia’s first season as a Trainee with Ballet Des Moines.

Back to Trainees

Victoria Vowels

Victoria hails originally from Kansas, and trained in Texas at the Austin Dance Conservatory. Victoria’s favorite roles so far have been Myrtha in Giselle and the Bridesmaid Variation in Don Quixote. Victoria dreams of performing in Akram Khan’s Giselle, and is excited about Ballet Des Moines’ premiere of Cinderella this season! This will be Victoria’s second season as a Trainee with Ballet Des Moines. 

Back to Trainees

Lucy Weber

Lucy is from the Des Moines area and has trained with Capital City Dance Center, Des Moines Danzarts Studio, Master Ballet Academy, San Francisco Ballet, BalletMet, and Ballet West. Her favorite role to date was in Romeo and Juliet (Mattingly). Lucy dreams of performing as Nikiya in La Bayadere. This will be Lucy’s second season as a Trainee with Ballet Des Moines.

Back to Trainees