Ballet Des Moines
Ballet Des Moines is a private nonprofit professional ballet company founded in 2002 in Des Moines, Iowa, producing a four-production annual season and operating accessibility, trainee, and community education programs for regional audiences, aspiring dancers, and patrons with disabilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersWest Des Moines, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ballet Des Moines does
Ballet Des Moines is a private nonprofit professional ballet company founded in 2002 and headquartered at the Lauridsen Campus for Arts & Education in Des Moines, Iowa. The organization produces a four-production annual season (Ghost Stories, The Nutcracker, New Voices, and American Songbook) performed at Hoyt Sherman Place and the Des Moines Civic Center, supplemented by a statewide Iowa tour spanning Omaha, North Liberty, Waterloo, Des Moines, and Cedar Rapids. It operates a Trainee Program for aspiring professional dancers aged 18-24 and runs the "Ballet without Barriers" accessibility initiative, which delivers adaptive dance classes, sensory-friendly Nutcracker performances, audio descriptions, and ASL interpretation.
The company serves four identifiable customer segments: general performing arts audiences in the Des Moines metro, audiences with disabilities, aspiring professional dancers, and professional dancers seeking employment with the company. Its revenue model is multi-stream and depends on direct ticket sales (season packages ranging from $128 to $407 and individual tickets at $35), recurring memberships through the Balletomane Society ($125/month or $1,500/year), tax-deductible donations (including publicly traded stock gifts), special-event revenue from Sensory Dinners and galas, and recurring tuition from community classes in Pilates, Adaptive Dance, and Fundamentals of Movement. Marketing is event-driven, relying on direct website sales, email newsletter, community events such as Beer & Ballet, and a broad partnership network with disability advocacy organizations including The Harkin Institute, Iowa School for the Deaf, IRIS, Childserve, Variety Iowa, Value Inclusion, and Dance Without Limits.
Operationally, the company maintains a lean staff of 11-50 employees under the leadership of CEO Blaire Massa, Artistic Director Eric Trope, Director of Development Todd Rhoades, and Director of Education & Outreach Beau Kenyon. Distribution is exclusively regional and direct, with no intermediaries between the company and its patrons. Core technology is limited to standard e-commerce, Squarespace-hosted website infrastructure, and a Spotify/Vimeo media presence; there is no proprietary technology stack, app, or API surface.
Ballet Des Moines firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ballet Des Moines
- Legal name
- Ballet Des Moines
- Website
- https://balletdesmoines.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ballet Des Moines is a private nonprofit professional ballet company founded in 2002 in Des Moines, Iowa, producing a four-production annual season and operating accessibility, trainee, and community education programs for regional audiences, aspiring dancers, and patrons with disabilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ballet Des Moines industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts
- NAICS
- Dance Companies (711120), Fine Arts Schools (61161)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Classical Ballet (Full-Length & Repertoire) (MPAGADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Contemporary & Modern Dance (MPAGADAB), Dance Education (Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Cultural Dance) (EDAMAAAH), Youth/Student & Community Dance Recitals (MPAGADAI)
Keywords
Where Ballet Des Moines is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- West Des Moines
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ballet Des Moines business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue from season ticket packages (Full Season and 3-Show), single performance tickets, and trainee showcase tickets sold directly to patrons.
- Balletomane Society Membership: Annual and monthly membership program offering exclusive access to private rehearsals, opening night parties, backstage tours, and discounts on season tickets. Membership starts at $125/month or $1,500 annually.
- Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations accepted via credit card, check, or gifts of publicly traded stock. Donors who have owned stocks for more than one year may enjoy greater tax savings.
- Sensory Dinners and Special Events: Revenue from unique dining experiences (Sensory Dinners) that include three-course meals with wine pairings, artist receptions, and performance previews.
- Adaptive Dance Classes: Public enrollment in Pilates, Adaptive Dance, and Fundamentals of Movement classes offered both on and off-site.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Full Season 4-show package including The Nutcracker |
| Subscription | Annual | 3-Show package (Ghost Stories, New Voices, American Songbook) - does NOT include The Nutcracker |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Trainee Showcase single ticket |
| Subscription | Monthly | Balletomane Society membership - exclusive access and discounts |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Ballet Des Moines product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ballet Des Moines is a professional ballet company that produces a four-production annual season (Ghost Stories, The Nutcracker, New Voices, and American Songbook) at Hoyt Sherman Place and Des Moines Civic Center. It supplements live performances with the Ballet without Barriers accessibility program, a Trainee Program for aspiring professional dancers aged 18-24, community dance classes (Adaptive Dance, Pilates, Fundamentals of Movement), Balletomane Society membership, and donor-supported community engagement events.
Product overview
Ballet Des Moines is a professional ballet company offering a single unified season of four major productions annually, supplemented by training programs, accessibility initiatives, and membership benefits. The core offering consists of season performances (Ghost Stories, The Nutcracker, New Voices, and American Songbook) at venues like Hoyt Sherman Place and Des Moines Civic Center. Supporting products include the Trainee Program for aspiring professionals aged 18-24, the Ballet without Barriers accessibility program with adaptive dance classes and sensory-friendly performances, the Balletomane Society membership with exclusive events and discounts, community dance classes, and company auditions. Season ticket packages provide access to all performances with tiered pricing and flexible payment options.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Season Performances Professional ballet performances consisting of four productions per season, featuring contemporary works, classical repertoire, and collaborations with the Des Moines Symphony. Available via season ticket packages (Full Season 4-show or 3-Show) and single-ticket purchases for general audiences and families in the Des Moines area.
- Ballet without Barriers Program Accessibility initiative for patrons with disabilities, providing sensory-friendly Nutcracker performances, adaptive dance classes, written and audio descriptions for visually impaired patrons, and sensory dinner events. Developed in coordination with disability organizations including the Harkin Institute, Iowa School for the Deaf, Value Inclusion, IRIS, Childserve, Variety, and Dance Without Limits.
- Trainee Program Immersive professional training program for aspiring ballet dancers aged 18-24, with company class, rehearsals, and performance opportunities alongside Ballet Des Moines' professional company, culminating in an annual Trainee Showcase ($35 per showcase ticket).
- Balletomane Society Membership Annual patron membership program starting at $125/month or $1,500 annually, providing exclusive benefits including private rehearsal access, backstage tours, Opening Night Parties, priority ticket access, and a 15% discount on season tickets.
- Community Dance Classes Public enrollment classes including Adaptive Dance for Older Adults (Movement for Parkinson's, Neuropathy, Arthritis), Fundamentals of Movement, and Strengthen | Align | Restore mat Pilates, offered on-site and off-site for community members.
- Company Auditions Open auditions for male, female, and nonbinary candidates with strong classical technique seeking company, apprentice, and trainee positions with the professional ballet company; candidates submit CV, headshot, dance photos, and video samples.
- Sensory Dinners Ticketed dining experiences including a three-course meal with wine pairings, artist receptions, and performance previews, designed as part of the accessibility programming for patrons with sensory and developmental needs.
Companies that use Ballet Des Moines
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Ballet Des Moines technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ballet Des Moines partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Harkin InstitutecoreThe Harkin Institute for Disability Policy & Research at Drake University partners with Ballet Des Moines for the Sensory Dinners program and accessibility initiatives. Daniel Van Sant, Director of Disability Policy at Harkin Institute, serves on the Ballet without Barriers Accessibility Committee.
- Iowa School for the DeafcoreIowa School for the Deaf partners with Ballet Des Moines for Sensory Dinners and accessibility programming. Christopher Fears from Iowa School for the Deaf serves on the Ballet without Barriers Accessibility Committee.
- Value InclusioncoreValue Inclusion partners with Ballet Des Moines for accessibility initiatives. Ashlea Lantz from Value Inclusion serves on the Ballet without Barriers Accessibility Committee.
- IRIS (Iowa Radio Reading Information Service)coreIRIS provides audio description and reading services for visually impaired patrons. Amy Davis and Maryfrances Evans from IRIS serve on the Ballet without Barriers Accessibility Committee.
- ChildserveminorChildserve provides pediatric therapy and disability services. Maggie Barsetti from Childserve serves on the Ballet without Barriers Accessibility Committee.
- Variety IowaminorVariety Iowa provides services to children with special needs. Wendy Ingham from Variety serves on the Ballet without Barriers Accessibility Committee.
- Dance Without LimitsminorDance Without Limits provides adaptive dance programming. Ann Ungs from Dance Without Limits (UnityPoint Health - Blank Pediatric Therapy) serves on the Ballet without Barriers Accessibility Committee.
- Des Moines Performing ArtscoreDes Moines Performing Arts is a venue partner and accessibility committee member. Karoline Myers and Janet Casson from Des Moines Performing Arts serve on the Ballet without Barriers Accessibility Committee. Performances are held at DMPA venues including Hoyt Sherman Place and Des Moines Civic Center.
- Des Moines SymphonycoreBallet Des Moines collaborates with the Des Moines Symphony for orchestral performances, including the 26/27 season American Songbook production featuring live music performed by Broadway star Max Chernin and his band.
- Heartland Youth ChoirminorHeartland Youth Choir provides vocal performances for The Nutcracker production.
- Winefest Des MoinesminorBallet Des Moines collaborates with Winefest Des Moines for the Assemble event, a joint marketing and fundraising activity.
- UnityPoint Health - Blank Pediatric TherapyminorAnn Ungs from Dance Without Limits, affiliated with UnityPoint Health - Blank Pediatric Therapy, serves on the Ballet without Barriers Accessibility Committee.
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ballet Des Moines competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tulsa Ballet: Mid-sized US regional ballet company with a similar four-to-five production season model and a professional company plus trainee pipeline; operates in a comparable mid-market American city.
- Iowa Dance Theatre: Iowa-based professional dance company operating in the same Des Moines market; offers comparable live dance performances and training programs, making it the closest head-to-head competitor for local audiences and donors.
- Omaha Ballet: Regional Midwest ballet company of comparable scale producing classical and contemporary seasons; competes with Ballet Des Moines on Iowa tour stops and overlapping donor/patron pools in western Iowa.
Broad incumbents
- Pacific Northwest Ballet: Major US ballet company with a similarly structured season of classical and contemporary works; relevant benchmark for production quality and donor-funded growth at scale.
- Joffrey Ballet: National-caliber ballet company with extensive community and education programs; serves as a comparable model for a nonprofit ballet's diversified earned and contributed revenue model.
- Nashville Ballet: Regional professional ballet company with a large school and community engagement programs; comparable operational structure and revenue model mix of tickets, donations, and tuition.
- Kansas City Ballet: Larger, established regional ballet company with deeper production budget and broader touring reach; competes with Ballet Des Moines for donor attention and occasional touring audiences in Iowa.
- Hubbard Street Dance Chicago: Major Midwest contemporary dance company; comparable on the contemporary works (Ghost Stories, New Voices) side of BDM's repertoire and on educational/outreach programming.
- Milwaukee Ballet: Mid-sized Midwest ballet company with a professional company, school, and accessible programming initiatives; comparable in scale and mission profile to Ballet Des Moines.
- Atlanta Ballet: One of the largest US regional ballet companies with a professional company, school, and extensive community programming; a relevant comparison for what Ballet Des Moines could scale into.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ballet Des Moines social profiles
Digital presenceBallet Des Moines financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ballet Des Moines leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Ballet Des Moines funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ballet Des Moines M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ballet Des Moines
What does Ballet Des Moines do?
Ballet Des Moines is a professional ballet company that produces a four-production annual season (Ghost Stories, The Nutcracker, New Voices, and American Songbook) at Hoyt Sherman Place and Des Moines Civic Center. It supplements live performances with the Ballet without Barriers accessibility program, a Trainee Program for aspiring professional dancers aged 18-24, community dance classes (Adaptive Dance, Pilates, Fundamentals of Movement), Balletomane Society membership, and donor-supported community engagement events.
Is Ballet Des Moines a public or private company?
Ballet Des Moines is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ballet Des Moines founded?
Ballet Des Moines was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ballet Des Moines based?
Ballet Des Moines is headquartered in West Des Moines, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ballet Des Moines make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are balletomane Society Membership, donations and Contributions, sensory Dinners and Special Events and adaptive Dance Classes.
Who are Ballet Des Moines's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tulsa Ballet, Iowa Dance Theatre and Omaha Ballet. Broad incumbents are Pacific Northwest Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Milwaukee Ballet and Atlanta Ballet.
Does Ballet Des Moines have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ballet Des Moines.
What industry is Ballet Des Moines in?
Ballet Des Moines's product category is Performing Arts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGADAA, Classical Ballet (Full-Length & Repertoire), with a secondary code of MPAGADAB, Contemporary & Modern Dance. Its NAICS code is 711120 and its SIC code is 7990.