Ballet Des Moines, other arts groups slated to get new downtown home
While the eastern half of downtown Des Moines's Kaleidoscope building is destined for the wrecking ball, the western half will get a new lease on life as the home of Ballet Des Moines and other organizations devoted to the arts and education.
The ballet and building owner EMC Insurance say the goal is to complete the renovation of the space at 655 Walnut St. early 2024.
For Ballet Des Moines, finding a new home is the culmination of years of searching. The organization is currently housed in an office park just southwest of West Des Moines' Valley Junction.
“It is difficult to find adequate places for ballet because we need a lot of room and high ceilings,” said Blaire Massa, CEO of Ballet Des Moines.
Massa said the move downtown fits into the ballet company’s goal of being “authentically accessible.” It will have high public visibility, with a prominent sign on the renovated building, and access to transit. It also will be steps from performance venues like the Des Moines Civic Center
“We hope that what we are doing here will be an inspiration for other downtown areas across the country with vacant space,” said Massa.
More: 11 things to do this weekend that have nothing to do with the Iowa State Fair
Ballet Des Moines will be leasing about 9,000 square feet of the 68,000-square-foot shopping mall from EMC. In addition to signage, the renovation will include revamping the facade of the nearly 40-year-old building, including studio windows. The space previously was occupied by Burger King, which left in 2019.
The facility will be called the Ballet Des Moines Central Campus for Arts and Education and will include a larger studio theater, a small studio, storage for costumes and sets, office space, restrooms and showers.
“EMC is committed to downtown Des Moines and preserving and growing its vibrancy,” said Beth Nigut, executive vice president at EMC. The company in partnership with the city also recently opened a public park across from its downtown headquarters at 704 Walnut, using land it had acquired for a since-postponed expansion.
Previously: Pliés and empowerment: Des Moines programs aim to offer dance and magic to children
“We think Ballet Des Moines is a great fit for this property and a nice addition to the downtown neighborhood," Nigut said. "And with studio windows to the street, the dancers are sure to inspire and engage with those who pass by on the sidewalk.”
The ballet also will have lots of new neighbors. The eastern half of the Kaleidoscope at the Hub is being cleared to make way for a $140 million, 33-story residential building with ground-floor retail that will be the third-tallest structure in the city. It's projected to open in 2025.
Ballet Des Moines is about a third of the way to its goal of raising $2.5 million for the renovation. In addition to the assistance from EMC, the organization also has received grants from Bravo Greater Des Moines and the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, said Massa.
She said her organization has been in talks with EMC for about six months and the discussions were “very different than anyone else we had been talking to.”
“Not only was EMC looking at this as an opportunity to invest in the community at large, we were also in a conversation about downtown spaces and what is changing in the world around downtown spaces, around residents, around employees, how often they’re here, what will keep them here,” she said.
In addition to serving as the home for Ballet Des Moines, the space will be a hub for “all sorts of arts and education,” she said.
"The new space will serve as a shared community asset for nonprofits, educators, artists and community leaders who share our commitment to improving outcomes and quality of life across the region and create opportunities for residents to engage with art every day," said Massa.
Ballet Des Moines has been around “in one form or another” since 1965, but became a company of professional dancers in 2012, she said, adding that the new facility will allow the organization to attract additional artists and professional choreographers.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ballet Des Moines to occupy EMC-owned section of Kaleidoscope downtown
