THE POINTE DANCE ENSEMBLE:
Directors: Albert "Hank" Adams and Elizabeth Harano Adams
THE POINTE DANCE ENSEMBLE has a mission to provide performing opportunities to young people who are highly skilled in classical ballet. Our responsibility is to impart to dancers and audiences alike the joy and artistry of dance in our community. Our hope is that you will leave a performance inspired with hope for the future of dance in Des Moines and Iowa.

Pointe Academy Dance Ensemble Performances 2007-08:
April 5, 2008 at Central Campus Auditorium in Des Moines at 2:00pm & 7:30 pm.
Repertory for this program includes:
Les Sylphides (choreography after Michel Fokine, music by Frederic Chopin)
Le Corsaire Pas de Trois (choreography after Rudolph Nureyev, music by Adolphe Adam)
Constellations (choreography by Albert Adams, music by Steve Reich)
The Unicorn, The Gorgon, and The Manticore (choreography by Albert Adams, music by Gian-Carlo Menotti)
Jonathan Livingston Seagull (choreography by Albert Adams, music by Mike Oldfield)

About the Sea & Sky Repertory:
     The World premiere ballet Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a ballet interpretation of the story by Richard Bach exploring the themes of the individual vs. the group. Dancers featured in this ballet are: Lindsey Curiel, Monica McConnell, Hailey Machir, Taylor Stumberg and Heather Loheed.
     The story of The Unicorn the Gorgon and the Manticore is told through choral music in the madrigal style. Menotti's tale weaves the characteristics of Youth, Middle Age and Old Age through the characters of the Unicorn, Gorgon and Manticore amid a story about a Poet who leads popular taste and the townspeople's jealous and petty need to one-up their neighbors. Although complex, the story uses humor and dance to advance the story. Featured Dancers: Elizabeth Harano Adams, Matthew Brekke, Jennifer Pray, Sarah Sontag, Lindsey Curiel and Ben Rethmeier. This ballet will also be presented the following weekend with live music in the Simpson College Opera Department's spring concert.
     Les Sylphides is a classic "white ballet" in the romantic style from the early 1900's. Celebrating the music of Chopin, the sylphs, in diaphanous white costumes, dance around a male poet figure in an ethereal atmosphere. Featured dancers: Tia Feather, Cory Gagne, Jennifer Pray and Ben Rethmeier as the poet.
     When Constellations was first performed in May of 2004, it was an immediate success. The minimalist music by Steve Reich accompanies a dream of starry nights brought to life by the dancers.
     The excerpt from the full length ballet Le Corsaire presented in this concert is a tour de force for 3 dancers. Jennifer Pray, Sarah Sontag and Monica McConnell display ensemble dancing and individual variations known for their technical difficulty and audience pleasing bravura.
     Also on the program are 2 works for a talented group of younger dancers and a solo danced by Katherine Eppink which she recently performed in Chicago at the Youth America Grand Prix semi-finals.

March 1, 2008 - Ensemble  Members dance and are given makeovers at the Scarlet Fashion Show Fundraiser for the Heart Association. See Photo of their wild hair above.

February 8-9, 2008 - Jenny, Monica and Katherine dance the Bayadere Pas De Trois at the Youth America Grand Prix preliminary competition in Chicago and place in the top 12.

October 14, 2007 - Ensemble Members dance at the All Iowa AIDS Benefit. Click here for a link to the Des Moines Register Photo and related story about the benefit which raised over $40, 000 for AIDS awareness and groups working with Iowans who are HIV positive.

Please contact us to be put on the mailing list if you wish to receive information about attending our next show.

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Sadako is available to be performed at your church, school or other performance venue.
Call 279-0742 if you would like to have this 25 minute ballet performed
for your group. A fee is charged for each performance.

  
Sadako Ballet
based on the story of Sadako and the Thousand Cranes
 (Premiered March  2003)

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Pointe Academy Dance Ensemble
Photo Gallery
  Les Sylphides (2008)

The Unicorn, The Gorgon and The Manticore (2008)

Cast and Crew of "Unicorn" at Simpson College (2008)

  Paquita (2006)

Soleil (2006)
 

 Les Patineurs  (2005)

One Heartbeat from Paradise (2003)

 Things We Love (2002)

Summer Symphony (2002)

The Pointe Dance Ensemble (Then called CID Youth Ballet) appeared on Iowa Public Television's "Living in Iowa" program in May 2003.

Help THE POINTE ACADEMY DANCE ENSEMBLE
spread dance all over Des Moines and Iowa.
As a non-profit tax exempt educational organization, we are able to accept your tax deductible donations to the  Performance Fund. In some cases your donation can be matched by your employer. Our bylaws forbid us to go into debt for any production, so your donation in advance of our performances helps determine the budget for the next show.
Will You Help?

Contact us at:
THE POINTE ACADEMY of Ballet and Contemporary Dance
2150 Delavan Dr. #8
West Des Moines, IA 50265
515-279-0742
hank@thepointeacademy.org