Beyond the Cornfields: Ames, Iowa's Unexpected Ballet Renaissance

Tucked into the rolling plains of central Iowa, Ames has built a reputation far beyond agriculture and academia. Over the past five decades, this Midwestern city—home to Iowa State University—has quietly cultivated a ballet scene that draws students, performers, and audiences from across the region. Whether you're a parent enrolling a first-grader in creative movement, a teenager auditioning for conservatory programs, or a patron seeking live performance, Ames offers training and artistry that punches above its weight.

Here are four institutions that anchor this surprising cultural hub.

1. The Ames City Ballet School: A Half-Century of Classical Roots

Founded in 1973, the Ames City Ballet School is the longest-running ballet academy in Story County. Its curriculum centers on the Vaganova method, with progressive tracks in ballet, pointe, variations, character dance, and partnering for students ages 8 to 18.

What sets the school apart is the depth of its faculty bench. Current instructors include former American Ballet Theatre soloist Elena Vostrikov and Boston Ballet principal James Chen, who relocated to Ames after retiring from the stage in 2019.

"We don't water down the technique because we're in Iowa," says Vostrikov, who directs the school's upper division. "Our graduates have gone on to trainee programs at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Cincinnati Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet. Geography is not a limitation here."

The school stages two full productions annually at Stephens Auditorium, including a Nutcracker that regularly sells 2,000 tickets across three performances.

2. The Iowa Dance Conservatory: Pre-Professional Training With Contemporary Edge

Located in downtown Ames, the Iowa Dance Conservatory operates as a rigorous pre-professional program for students aiming at company contracts or university BFA programs. Dancers train six days per week, with daily technique class followed by pointe or men's variations, contemporary, modern, and conditioning.

The conservatory's 2024 summer intensive drew 120 students from 28 states, with admission by audition only. Guest faculty changes yearly—recent clinicians have included dancers from Alonzo King LINES Ballet and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

"Our conservatory is built on classical structure, but we don't treat contemporary work as an afterthought," says artistic director Maria Kowalski, a former Joffrey Ballet dancer. "By age 16, our students are comfortable in both pointe shoes and bare feet."

Graduates of the program have matriculated to Indiana University, Butler University, and the Ailey/Fordham BFA program.

3. The Ames City Dance Academy: Ballet for Every Age and Stage

Not every dancer pursues a professional career—and the Ames City Dance Academy embraces that reality. This community-based school on Lincoln Way serves roughly 300 students annually, from 3-year-olds in creative movement to adults in beginning ballet.

The academy's ballet track follows a graded syllabus through Level 6, with optional examinations. Beyond ballet, students can study contemporary, jazz, tap, and musical theater dance. Tuition runs on a sliding scale, and the academy offers need-based scholarships for families qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

The academy also partners with Ames Community School District to provide after-school programming at four elementary schools, making dance accessible to students who might not otherwise step into a studio.

4. The Ames City Ballet Company: Professional Repertory in Central Iowa

Rounding out the ecosystem is the Ames City Ballet Company, a professional troupe of 16 dancers from 10 states. The company maintains no formal school affiliation but regularly casts advanced students from the Ames City Ballet School and Iowa Dance Conservatory in its large-scale productions.

Recent seasons have included Giselle, Alexei Ratmansky's Seven Sonatas, and a 2023 world premiere by choreographer 晓西· Morrison titled Midwest Prayers. The company performs three subscription programs each year at the Ames Center for the Performing Arts, plus The Nutcracker in December and free outdoor concerts in Bandshell Park each July.

"Audiences here are hungry for this work," says company director Thomas Reed. "We sold out our Giselle run in 2022. There's a real appetite for ballet that isn't coastal or elitist—it's Iowan."

How to Engage With Ames Ballet