Complexions Contemporary Ballet graced the stage this past week for the stunning conclusion to Des Moines Performing Arts’ 2025-2026 Dance Series. The program was a celebration of artistry and skill, featuring dancers of varying heights, ethnicities and cultures as well as music of differing eras and genres.
Meghan Klinkenborg
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Review: Ballet Des Moines’ ‘Nothing Holds Still’ featured veiled dancers, intricate partner work, the Belin Quartet and a painting danced onto the canvas
Ballet Des Moines offered an evening of world premieres with their latest performance, Nothing Holds Still. The program featured works by three choreographers, each exploring themes of time, transformation and stillness through their own unique perspective. In all, music and movement communicate diverse emotions without any need for words. The program opened with a depiction […]
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Review: From passionate to jazzy to epic, the Des Moines Symphony shined with ‘Love–Romeo & Juliet’
The Des Moines Symphony offered classical music enthusiasts an ideal date night on Valentine’s weekend with Love–Romeo & Juliet, the aptly titled fourth installment of their Masterworks Series. The baton was wielded by guest conductor, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, who led a nuanced program of European masterpieces. Harth-Bedoya’s rapport with the ensemble was remarkable considering this is […]
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Review: Cedar Rapids Opera’s ‘Die Fledermaus’ is endearing and perfectly ridiculous
Like a tempting glass of champagne in the middle of Dry January, Cedar Rapids Opera’s production of Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus was a perfectly frothy, frivolous escape from the dark and dreary winter.
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Review: Ballet Des Moines passes the ‘Nutcracker’ litmus test with flying colors
Ballet Des Moines was blessed with a snowy opening night for The Nutcracker last Thursday at Hoyt Sherman Place. For ballet companies across the world, the production of The Nutcracker is both the close to the fall season and a company’s most attended performance, thanks to its ties to holiday tradition and nostalgia. With the […]
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Review: From the lobby to stage, New York Voices (with an assist from a local youth choir) brought Christmas spirit to the Staplin Center
Civic Music Association’s centennial season invites a wide array of musicians to Des Moines, and this past weekend they ushered in the holiday season at Staplin Performing Arts Center with a festive performance of The Sounds of the Season by New York Voices.
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Review: Dance company BODYTRAFFIC pays homage to Buddy Holly, Peggy Lee and James Brown in Des Moines
Des Moines Performing Arts launched their 2025-2026 Dance Series with a powerful performance by BODYTRAFFIC. Based in Los Angeles, the renowned dance company celebrates diversity and innovation through performance and education initiatives, sharing their passion for dance with audiences across the world.
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Review: Des Moines Symphony performs its first work by an Indigenous composer, paired with Dvořák and Chopin
Des Moines Symphony offered another crowd-pleasing performance last month with the second installment of their Masterworks series, Wisdom – Dvořák 6 & Chopin. Their program once again featured a modern piece by a living composer as well as celebrated works from two titans of the Romantic era. Truly a refreshing balance of the old and […]
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Review: Des Moines Symphony’s debut concert featuring Viet Cuong was a goosebump-inducing start to an ambitious season
Des Moines Symphony kicked off their 88th season with the aptly titled debut concert Triumph–Tchaikovsky 5 on Sept. 27 and 28. Their program featured a stunning composition by a rising American composer sandwiched in between two beloved masterpieces hailing from Russia, a true celebration of the old and the new. The symphony embraced technology on […]
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Review: Ballet Des Moines kicks off the season with athleticism, Enya and a pianist that’s part of the performance
Ballet Des Moines opened their 2025-2026 season this past weekend with Forward, an evening of new and returning performances at Hoyt Sherman Place. The company aims to make dance more inclusive and accessible this season through a diverse repertoire and community initiatives, including a podcast, sensory friendly matinees, audio transcriptions and adaptive dance classes. The […]
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Review: A brooding demon, total Bedlam and the healthiest opera romance of all time from Des Moines Metro Opera
Des Moines Metro Opera offered an eclectic 53rd season, including beloved classics and lesser known gems. During this month’s opening holiday weekend, audience members were treated to vocal fireworks onstage with three impressive operatic productions.
