THE POINTE ACADEMY DANCE ENSEMBLE

Since our debut in 2002 The Pointe Academy Dance Ensemble has annually self produced full-length evening concerts of dance.

Isn’t this just a recital? Nope.

Recitals are shows in which each level or class in a dance studio performs a short piece, so there are many dances and every dancer in the school performs. They’re lots of fun! But this show is a dance concert, in which our performing company will perform a combination of shorter and longer works, more akin to the type of show a professional dance company would present (like the kind of show a dance company performing at the Civic Center would be, for example).

Should my dancer and I come to see this show if they aren’t in it?

YES, absolutely! There are so many reasons why, but here are a few:
• You and your dancer will get to see what they can look forward to as they continue to progress in their training! They will finally get to see what the “big kids” are up to and can gain motivation to do what those dancers do
• It’s a great way to introduce your child to live theater and instill an appreciation for dance and for the arts at a young age, to learn theater etiquette, and to support other dancers

What is THE POINTE ACADEMY DANCE ENSEMBLE?

It’s members are intermediate and advanced level dancers from the Pointe Academy who have been invited to join the Pointe Academy Dance
Ensemble. It’s an opportunity afforded those students who’ve demonstrated talent and a requisite commitment to their dance training. The performance opportunities that come with membership also come with the responsibility to maintain that dedication to their training, support their fellow dancers, and to represent the academy in the community. They learn classical masterworks and also have new original ballets set on them.

In the Community

Our collaborations with other local arts organizations over the years have included performances with Simpson College Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Iowa Dance Theatre and the Des Moines Arts festival. In April of 2011 we joined forces with local composer Ben Allaway in his grand choral masterwork “A Celtic Mass” at First Christian Church. It went on to tour several cities in Europe and was aired on Iowa Public Television.

Over the past 20 years many of our dancers have found success dancing in professional dance companies, top university dance programs and elite ballet school summer programs around the country having been recognized among the elite ballet performers in central Iowa.

Our Mission:

• To guide our students to a discovery of the joy and artistry inherent in classical and contemporary dance
• Develop mastery in the technical rigors of the art form
• Produce live dance performances of artistic merit
• Be an integral part of the cultural life of our community.

“Sadako” based on the story of “Sadako and the Thousand Cranes”

> Sadako

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