When 16-year-old Emma Voss received her acceptance letter to the School of American Ballet's coveted summer intensive this year, she traced her technical foundation back to a modest storefront studio tucked between a coffee shop and a dry cleaner in Urbandale. Her story isn't unique. Over the past decade, this Des Moines suburb has quietly emerged as a training ground for dancers who go on to professional companies, competitive university programs, and national summer intensives.
This guide examines three established training centers serving the Urbandale community, evaluated through direct observation, interviews with artistic staff, and analysis of student outcomes. Whether you're a parent researching your child's first pre-ballet class or a pre-professional dancer seeking advanced training, here's what distinguishes each program—and how to determine which environment matches your goals.
How We Evaluated These Centers
Facility standards: Sprung floors, Marley surface covering, ceiling height for jumps, and natural lighting Instructional credentials: Professional performing experience, teaching certifications, and continuing education Curriculum structure: Syllabus-based training versus recreational programming Performance pathways: Recitals, competitions, pre-professional opportunities, and professional company connections Student outcomes: Acceptances to summer intensives, college dance programs, and professional contracts
The Ballet Academy of Urbandale: Building Foundations from Age Three
Best for: Young beginners through pre-professional teens seeking structured Vaganova training
Walk into the Ballet Academy of Urbandale on a Saturday morning, and you'll find Artistic Director Maria Chen demonstrating fondu combinations to a line of ten-year-olds in royal blue leotards. Chen, a former soloist with American Ballet Theatre who performed with the company from 2008 to 2016, established the academy in 2014 after retiring from the stage.
The academy's distinguishing feature is its adherence to the Vaganova syllabus, the Russian training method that produced Mikhail Baryshnikov and Diana Vishneva. Students progress through eight graded levels, with annual examinations administered by outside evaluators. "The syllabus creates accountability," Chen explains. "Parents understand exactly what skills their child should master before advancing."
Concrete details:
- Ages served: 3–18, with adult ballet offered Tuesday and Thursday evenings
- Facility: Three studios with sprung oak floors, 14-foot ceilings, and wall-mounted barres; waiting area with observation windows
- Performance opportunities: December Nutcracker at Hoyt Sherman Place (Des Moines), June showcase at Urbandale High School Performing Arts Center
- 2024–2025 tuition: $78–$285 monthly depending on level and class frequency
- Notable alumni: Two current trainees at Pacific Northwest Ballet, one dancer with Kansas City Ballet II
The pre-professional program requires minimum six hours weekly for levels five through eight, with private coaching available for competition and audition preparation. Chen personally mentors students applying to summer intensives, a process that yielded acceptances to Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet, and Colorado Ballet programs in 2024.
Parent perspective: "We tried two other studios before finding Chen," says Jennifer Okonkwo, whose daughter has trained at the academy for five years. "The difference was immediate—proper alignment from day one, not just cute costumes."
Urbandale School of Dance: Performance-Focused Training for the Competition-Minded
Best for: Students seeking multiple performance formats and competitive opportunities; adult beginners welcome
If the Ballet Academy of Urbandale emphasizes classical purity, the Urbandale School of Dance embraces versatility. Founded in 1998 by former Radio City Rockette Denise Patterson, the school occupies a 12,000-square-foot facility with six studios, a costume shop, and a dedicated pilates equipment room.
Patterson's Broadway background shapes the school's philosophy. "Ballet is your foundation, but it's not your only language," she says. Students take mandatory ballet technique but cross-train in jazz, contemporary, and musical theater. The competition team, which requires audition and additional fees, travels to four regional events annually.
Concrete details:
- Ages served: 18 months through adult; largest enrollment in elementary and middle school divisions
- Facility: Six Harlequin-sprung studios with professional sound systems; on-site physical therapy partnerships
- Performance opportunities: Two annual recitals at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines; competition team performances; community appearances at Iowa State Fair and Des Moines Arts Festival
- 2024–2025 tuition: $65–$340 monthly; competition team incurs additional $1,200–$2,400 annually for costumes, travel, and entry fees
- Notable feature: Pilates apparatus classes included in tuition for intermediate and advanced students
The school's adult program deserves particular mention. "Absolute Beginner Ballet" on Monday evenings regularly fills its
