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[1] Ballet Des Moines staged its first show, The Nutcracker, that winter and its first spring show, Swan Lake and Divertimento, the following spring.[2]

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.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5]

As of 2019, the company has six professional dancers:

• Bobbie Lynn Kandravi
• Eleanor Albaugh
• Devin Tokarski
• Logan Hillman
• Erin Arendorfer
• Amelia Grubb

• List of ballet companies in the United States

• Ballet Des Moines Official Site