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The professional dancers employed by Ballet Des Moines live in the metro — and could be the barista at your favorite local coffee shop, the woman perusing the avocados in the produce section at Hy-Vee, or the couple walking their big black-and-white dog around the neighborhood every morning.
“Certainly not every time we go out, but quite often,” ballerina Amelia Grubb Hillman said about being recognized alongside her husband, Logan Hillman, a danseur who, like Amelia, is a professional dancer with Ballet Des Moines (BDM).
Ameila has danced for the company since 2016; Logan joined three years later, and a year after that the pair purchased a home in Sherman Hill.
“We had always adored the neighborhood and found a perfect Victorian for us — built in 1882 and chock-full of charm and homey vibes,” Amelia said. “We moved in with our two cats, six months later we were married, and one month after that we adopted our dog, Percy.”
After a relationship spanning 10 years, six states and two countries, as well as seven different ballet companies, “it was an eventful year,” she said.
“We hear often how much audience members love it when we are paired together onstage — even when they don’t know we’re married,” Amelia said. “And we believe the trust, the ease, and the love we feel in each other’s company comes across when we dance. Also, we just love dancing together. It’s our favorite thing.”
These days, everyday life is only slightly less eventful for the Hillmans. Although they both dance, rehearse and train with Ballet Des Moines for most of the year, they also work at other jobs.
Logan is a licensed massage therapist at East Village Spa, and Amelia works as a freelance digital marketer. Their routine includes walking Percy around Sherman Hill or Gray’s Lake, going on hikes, cooking together, playing Nintendo Switch, and cuddling with the kitties.
“We also love thrifting and hunting for unique treasures for our home. When we do stuff, we do it together — we’re a team,” Logan said.
Last fall, the couple began performing as a team in a series of shows at Noce, produced by Max Wellman.
“It’s been so fun collaborating with other local artists; I’m always in awe of the talent in the room,” Amelia said. During the Voix de Ville show featuring Wellman, singer Napoleon Douglas, drag queens Tyona Diamond and Domita Sanchez, and a whole band of musicians, the couple flexes their dancing and acting chops.
“Our favorite number is a tango duet to a saucy adaptation of the Radiohead song ‘Talk Show Host.’ It’s very sexy.”
The couple is sure to leave an impression when they dance on any stage — but especially at the ballet.
“We hear often how much audience members love it when we are paired together onstage — even when they don’t know we’re married,” Amelia said. “And we believe the trust, the ease, and the love we feel in each other’s company comes across when we dance. Also, we just love dancing together. It’s our favorite thing.”
Audience members will experience the couple doing their favorite thing — alongside 20 other BDM dancers and 19 community dancers — at the world premiere of “Romeo and Juliet,” April 26 at Stephens Auditorium. Set to the iconic Prokofiev score, Ballet Des Moines’ world premiere production of “Romeo and Juliet” will feature a live performance by the BDM Orchestra and all-new choreography by Artistic Director Tom Mattingly.
This epic story of romance and tragedy will mesmerize audiences for two hours with all the splendor of Shakespearean storytelling and another storied element: the costumes.
“They were originally built by the Royal Ballet and now are owned and maintained by Cincinnati Ballet,” said Creative Director Jami Milne. “And both our Artistic Director Tom Mattingly and Rehearsal Director Josh Bodden performed “Romeo and Juliet” with Cincinnati Ballet in these exact costumes.”
While you won’t spy any of the BDM dancers in costume at the coffee shop or grocery store, you very well might recognize them out in the community. And when you do, don’t hesitate to express how much their artistry means to you.
“Being recognized offstage is never something we expect to happen, but when it does, it’s very impactful,” Logan said, “because it means we left a lasting impression on our audience — which is always the goal.”
> CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BALLET DES MOINES
655 Walnut Street | Des Moines, IA 50309 | www.balletdesmoines.org
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