Ballet Des Moines II Dances Into Summer

While Ballet Des Moines was on hiatus for the summer, many of our Ballet Des Moines II dancers remained active participating in everything from summer intensive training sessions to a stint on a popular reality dance show.

Ballet Des Moines II is Ballet Des Moines’ second company of pre-professional dancers. Dancers in the second company range in age from 13 to 18 and are all from the Greater Des Moines (DSM).

The dancers and their summer plans are as follows:

Gabbi Nielsen, 17, Trainee, began a five-week intensive training program with the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, Wash. on July 6.

Jacque LeWarne, 18, Trainee, was one of 20 dancers chosen to compete in season 11 of So You Think You Can Dance. The show airs Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. on FOX. Jacque is currently in the Top 10.

Emma Heithoff, 15, Ballet Des Moines II, attended the Joffrey Denver Ballet Intensive program, June 9-13, in Denver, Colo.

Athena Norian, 15, Ballet Des Moines II, attended a three-week summer program with the San Francisco Ballet School on June 16.

Hannah Ahr, 15, Ballet Des Moines II, attended a four-week intensive with the American Ballet Theatre the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem, N.C. on June 21.

Madeline Ungs, 16, Ballet Des Moines II, attended The Rockettes’ Summer Intensive Invitational Week in New York City, June 23-27.

About Ballet Des Moines

Ballet Des Moines is a private non-profit organization based in West Des Moines, Iowa. Under the artistic direction of Serkan Usta, Ballet Des Moines launched its first professional ballet company in 2012, offering additional training opportunities for young dancers and an expanded performance season. Ballet Des Moines exists to enrich lives in the greater Des Moines area by delivering excellence in the performing arts and providing the highest level of dance education in the region. Visit balletdesmoines.org, “like” us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @BalletDM to learn more.