Tradition Rooted in Access

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For many, experiencing a performance of The Nutcracker inside the opulent Hoyt Sherman Place signals the arrival of the holiday season. “So many families for so many years have made this tradition a part of their holiday,” Ballet Des Moines’ creative director Jami Milne says. “And there’s something about the ritual of visiting this iconic home within the heart of our city that brings about holiday magic.” BDM—the only professional company performing The Nutcracker in Central Iowa—will stage six performances of the holiday classic at Hoyt Sherman Place Dec. 11-14. The company will also travel to Grinnell, Fairfield, and Burlington to share the holiday magic around the state.

The magic of the Ballet Des Moines performances comes from the 24 professional dancers who bring the story of Clara and her nutcracker to life. Tchaikovsky’s classic score provides the foundation of this two-act ballet, from the introduction of characters, including Clara at her parents’ Christmas party to her dream sequence during which her nutcracker comes alive and they travel to a series of vivid landscapes.

Making the performance even sweeter: community dancers. “Hundreds of young dancers from across the state audition to perform alongside BDM’s professionals each year.” says Blaire Massa, CEO of BDM. “For some, this is their first experience on stage. For others, getting a role as a Fritz or in the infamous Snow Scene is a dream come true—one they train for all year long.” Dancers from 5 to 18 years old audition for roles in each of the locations featuring local youth. “BDM encourages dancers from all corners of the community to be part of their productions, knowing that the confidence and pride of being part of a world-class production belongs to everyone,” Massa adds.

“BDM encourages dancers from all corners of the community to be part of their productions, knowing that the confidence and pride of being part of a world-class production belongs to everyone,” Massa adds.

BDM partners with Oakridge Neighborhood, a housing and human services agency providing support to refugee and immigrant families, and SEEDS, an organization integrating BIPOC culture across various artistic disciplines, to encourage more diverse representation on the stage. BDM offers scholarships to cover the cost of tuition, tights, ballet slippers, and costumes, hoping to remove as many barriers to participation as possible.

And this year, BDM is making The Nutcracker more accessible than ever. On Dec. 12, BDM will perform a sensory-friendly matinee tailored to a blind, deaf, and neurodivergent audience. “I’m excited to see Ballet Des Moines take this important step toward making art in our community more accessible to disabled people,” Daniel Van Sant, director of disability policy at The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement says. “It’s a great reminder that, among the many necessary pieces of disability advocacy, people with disabilities also want access to fun, access to recreation, access to culture, to music, to art, and all the other things that make us human. The Harkin Institute is proud to assist Ballet Des Moines on this journey.”

A new initiative is also working to make this beloved holiday tradition, and all BDM performances, more accessible to all Iowa residents. BDM’s Community Ticketing Program, in partnership with the Iowa Library Association and Des Moines Public Library and with support from Hoyt Sherman Place and Des Moines Performing Arts, provides complimentary tickets to anyone age 7 and up who holds a public library card. While supplies last, about 1,000 library card holders will have access to one complimentary ticket for each of the four BDM productions in the 2025-2026 season, including The Nutcracker.

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