our DANCERS

  • JUDITH BRUGGEMAN

    APPRENTICE

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  • BLAISE HOUCHIN (He/HIM)

    APPRENTICE

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TRAINEES

BDM TRAINEE PROGRAM

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COMPANY DANCER INTERVIEWS

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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 fifth season with the company. 

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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 sixth season with Ballet Des Moines.

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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 third season with Ballet Des Moines.

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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 11 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 as Juliet in Tom Mattingly’s Romeo & Juliet with her husband, Logan Hillman. 

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Logan Hillman

Originally from northern Virginia, this is Logan’s eighth 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.

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Rune Houchin

Rune began his ballet training at the age of 11, moving 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 sixth season at Ballet Des Moines.

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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 fifth season with Ballet Des Moines.

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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 sixth 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.

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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 & Juliet (Mattingly). This will be Cameron’s sixth full season as a company dancer this year.

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Chiyo Nishida

Having grown up in San Jose, California and Osaka, Japan, Chiyo calls both places home. They first learned their love for ballet at a small community program in Santa Clara, then went on to formally train in classical ballet at Homura Tomoi Ballet School in Osaka. Chiyo then attended college at Butler University where they received their BFA in Dance Performance and completed a minor in Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.  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 Hollow (Archibald), Behind. Between. Beyond. (Jung), and the pas de deux from The American (Wheeldon). This is Chiyo’s sixth season with Ballet Des Moines.

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Jordan Powers

Hailing from Texas, Jordan trained at the Austin Dance Conservatory and competed successfully at the national level in classical and contemporary dance. Joining Ballet Des Moines as a Trainee in 2023, she received a position as an Apprentice in 2024 before being promoted to the full company for the 2025-2026 season. Her favorite roles thus far include Minnie, the small step-sister, in Cinderella (Mattingly), Dewdrop in The Nutcracker, and performing in Four Seasons (Mattingly), as well as Shadow Dances (Trope). This is Jordan’s third season with Ballet Des Moines.

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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 roles have been Shadow Dances, choreographed by Eric Trope, and Snow Queen from The Nutcracker. Ellie’s dream role is to perform Swanilda in Coppelia. This will be Ellie’s third season with Ballet Des Moines, after spending two seasons as an apprentice.

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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 in Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Mattingly), Behind. Between. Beyond. (Dayoung Jung), the role of Clara in The Nutcracker, and the role of Winter Fairy in Cinderella (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 first season as an Apprentice with Ballet Des Moines.

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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 second season as an apprentice with Ballet Des Moines.

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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 and a minor in Arts Entrepreneurship. Her favorite role thus far has been Snow Queen in The Nutcracker (Kozadayev). This will be Evelyn’s second season as a Trainee with Ballet Des Moines.

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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 second season as a Trainee with Ballet Des Moines.  

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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 second season as a Trainee with Ballet Des Moines.

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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 second season as a Trainee with Ballet Des Moines.

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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 second season as a Trainee with Ballet Des Moines.

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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 & Juliet (Mattingly). Lucy dreams of performing as Nikiya in La Bayadere. This will be Lucy’s third season as a Trainee with Ballet Des Moines.

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