BRANDED CONTENT There are many firsts along the journey to “cultural icon” status, events that lift organizations to treasured stalwarts of the community. In Des Moines, we are honored to have several such icons in our midst, and in May, two of them—Ballet Des Moines and Des Moines Symphony— will come together on stage, a first for both cultural giants. “We are thrilled to be collaborating with Des Moines Symphony,” Ballet Des Moines’ Creative Director Jami Milne says of the May 16-17 performances of Cinderella. “It will be a treat for our audiences to see just how amazing their local arts organizations are. With Cinderella, you’ll get two for the price of one!” Calla Whipp, director of marketing and public relations for Des Moines Symphony, agrees. “Coming together for Cinderella will be a magical experience,” she says. “The audience will feel the full impact of both art forms at their highest level.” A generous 2024 gift from local philanthropists Nix and Virginia Lauridsen has made the partnership possible. According to Ballet Des Moines, the ballet will feel very familiar to fans of the well-known Disney story, but with a few key differences. In the ballet, Cinderella’s stepmother is forced to sell the family’s large estate and relocate to a small cottage. Another is the relationship between Cinderella and Maxxie, the oldest stepsister, who understands what it’s like to be the outcast. Maxxie shows small acts of kindness to Cinderella in secret. Finally, in Cinderella’s transformation scene in the forest, the Fairy Godmother is joined by the fairies of the four seasons and the fairies of the stars. Their magic combines to give Cinderella an otherworldly aura when she attends the ball. “It’s important to me that the story of Cinderella showcases a full range of emotion. Comedy is central to the story; we feel sympathy for Cinderella; and, at the end of the ballet, we see how acts of kindness can be transformative for those who both give and receive.” —choreographer Tom Mattingly Bringing Ballet Des Moines’ resident choreographer Tom Mattingly, who also choregraphed the company’s  world premiere of Romeo Juliet in 2025  “It’s important to me that the story of Cinderella showcases a full range of emotion,” Mattingly says. While he will be choreographing the entire ballet from scratch, Mattingly says he has been studying other productions for inspiration. “It’s most important to know why I liked what I saw so that I can channel that feeling into my own choreography. I think this process allows me to be inspired by others while creating something that is truly my own.” While sets and costumes for the world premiere will be rented from Louisville Ballet, Cinderella will shine in its scale and originality. “The scale is larger than any other production in Ballet Des Moines history,” Milne says. “But performing alongside the symphony is what will really bring this production to life. Live music creates such a sense of spontaneity when coupled with dance, and we’re thrilled to be bringing this to the community.” The score, written by prolific composer Sergey Prokofiev in the early 1940s is one of his most popular. “Symphony musicians often learn music written for ballet, but they don’t often get to perform it as it was originally intended: to accompany live dancers,” Whipp says. “Performing this music with Ballet Des Moines on stage is fun! The music is lush and cinematic, and this collaboration elevates Cinderella from a beloved story into an immersive, unforgettable experience.” Maestro Jared Oaks will return to Des Moines to conduct the symphony for this production of Cinderella. “Jared is one of the leading young conductors in the United States, conducting for Houston Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, Ballet West, and the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, among others,” Mattingly says. “Des Moines really is lucky to have these two professional organizations in our city,” Whipp says. “The artistry is top-notch!” It could be argued, “iconic.” > CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BALLET DES MOINES 655 Walnut Street | Des Moines, IA 50309 | www.balletdesmoines.org ...read more read less