Dancers twirled around the Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino ballroom yesterday afternoon during the final round of the Des Moines Dance Off. The competition was fierce as 46 solo and ensemble ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical and modern dance acts set out to prove they were the best in the ballroom.

Congratulations to category winners!
 
8-13 Ensemble Winners
1.  "Dream" - Independent
Emma Heithoff & Mikaela Jagim

2.  "Sapphires" - School of Classical Ballet & Dance
Kaitlyn Heims, Hannah Ahr, Ranae Peterson & Athena Norian

3. "Wickked Lil Girls" - Nicole's School of Dance
Courtney Hudson, Dasha Waldemer, Natalie Aunspack & Michelle Nitschke


14 & Up Ensemble Winners
1.  I Want You to Want Me, NW Missouri Academy of Dance
Brooke Anderson, Megan Godby & Daryl Wilson

2.  Just Tap, Deborah's School of Dance
Chris Petersen & Holly Asman

3.  Big Dollhouse, Nicole's School of Dance
Annie Clendenen, Courtney Hudson, Hanna Forrest, Jessie Johnson, Kayla Meyer, Kylee Thiner & Sam Thorson


8-13 Solo Winners
1.  Dasha Waldemer - Nicole's School of Dance
2.  Madeline Ungs - School of Classical Ballet & Dance
3.  Mia Spitzer - Becky Nalevanko's Dance & Tumbling Studio

14 & Up Solo Winners
1.  Daryl Wilson - NW Missouri Academy of Dance
2.  Kayla Meyer - Nicole's School of Dance
3.  Edwin Ramirez -Independent

Fan Favorite - Mia Spitzer

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Dance Off News, continued

Dancers performed three minute, choreographed routines before a panel of local celebrity judges. The panel included professional ballet dancers Giselle Durand and Julio Montano, comedian Willie Farrell, Chairman of the Board and retired CEO of The Principal Financial Group® and the current president of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines J. Barry Griswell, and theatre performer Wicker Van Orsdel. The winning acts took home more than $2,500 in cash and prizes.

"More than 200 dancers, over 90 acts and 15 studios tried out for the Des Moines Dance Off on June 13. Typically, first year dance competitions struggle so we were thrilled to have so many talented dancers tryout for the Des Moines Dance Off," says Ballet Des Moines Board President Katherine Harrington.
 
The final round of the Des Moines Dance Off will be broadcast on Mediacom Channel 22. The viewing audience will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite dance online at www.desmoinesdanceoff.org when the show airs on Monday, June 28th at 7:00pm Central Standard Time. The winner that receives the most votes will win the Mediacom Fan Favorite award and $250!

Proceeds from the event benefit Ballet Des Moines and their efforts to establish a full-time, professional ballet company. We are grateful to be the beneficiary of this incredible event, says Harrington. There are a lot of exciting things happening at Ballet Des Moines this year - including a studio design project and the addition of Alice in Wonderland at the Des Moines Civic Center to the 2011 performance schedule - and its all possible thanks to fundraisers like this and our generous donors, corporate sponsors, dancers, teachers, volunteers and attendees!
 
A very special thanks to the Dance Off Development team for all of their hard work, time and effort into the development of the program: Kelly Ahr, Mary Ellerbroek, Tracy Fuller, Liz Gilman, Anne Jackson Metzger, Anita Norian, Susan Pfeil, and Genna Sears.

 

Ballet Des Moines is pleased to partner with the Des Moines Civic Center for their Jersey Boys Broadway Camp: Triple-Threat Musical Theater Intensive July 12 - 16. Cast and crew members of JERSEY BOYS will lead a new intensive musical theater day camp for teens (ages 14-19) at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines. The camp focuses on the triple threat of musical theater - acting, singing, and dancing - featuring master classes with the professionals, as well as audition techniques, professional headshots, and once-in-a-lifetime networking opportunities.
 
The camp attendees will be using Ballet Des Moines' space in the East Village for some of their master classes and workshops. We are pleased to assist the Civic Center in this exciting, youth educational program! More information at Civic Center Classes and Camps

 

Ballet Des Moines is proud to partner this summer with the Iowa Shakespeare Experience's free summer festival July 16 - 19 at 8:15pm! Appearing in the festival on behalf of Ballet Des Moines are members of the Ballet Des Moines II company including: Eleanor Albaugh, Katie Hutchinson, Kyle Peterson and Laura Skold. Karina Barone is the choreographer for the dancing portions of the program and has been working with the kids for this exciting show. For more information, please visit the Iowa Shakespeare site.

 

Ballet Des Moines will again perfom at the Des Moines Arts Festival this weekend!

GuideOne Insurance Performing Arts Stage

Saturday, June 26
1:45 to 3:00 pm

 

Do you love to sew and love ballet? We need you! Our two big ballets for the 2010-2011 season have a great deal of costuming needs. We are looking for a costume shop manager, people who are willing to learn how to sew for ballet (ever wonder how those tutus are made?), and general sewing and alterations help. Interested? Contact us at info@balletdesmoines.org.