Meet your instructors. All classes at the Pointe Academy are taught by these adult professional dance educators.

Albert “Hank” Adams:

Co-director, is a Des Moines native who was awarded a full scholarship to the prestigious Stone-Camryn School of Ballet in Chicago after High School. In addition to a ballet career with the Colorado Concert Ballet, David Taylor Dance Theater, the Eglevsky Ballet in New York City, and the Neuman Dance Project, Hank has also performed in over 30 musicals and operas. Since returning home to Iowa in 1991 he has worked with practically every local dance organization there is. A short list includes: Des Moines Metro Opera, Simpson College Opera, Iowa Dance Theatre, The Neuman Project, StageWest, Des Moines Playhouse, Dance Co’motion, and Shakespeare on the lawn at Salisbury House.

Elizabeth “Beth” Harano Adams

Co-director, came to Des Moines in 1990 as Principal Ballerina for Ballet Iowa where she remained for 4 years. Her ballet training includes scholarships in New York at the School of American Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet School, the San Francisco Ballet School as well as the Frankfurt Musik Hochshule in Germany. She danced professionally for 10 years and has graced national and international stages with companies from all over the U.S. including Ballet Met in Columbus, Ohio, Ballet West in Salt Lake City, Utah, Ballet Oklahoma, Princeton Ballet, Chamber Ballet USA, in New York City, Colorado Ballet, Ballet Iowa, and in Des Moines: The Neuman Dance Project and Iowa Dance Theater. She teaches all levels of Ballet, Pointe and Modern Dance and has been honing this skill for over 10 years. Mrs. Adams is also ballet mistress for the Pointe Academy Dance Ensemble, and restages classical works and provides original choreography for the company.

Gabby Leonard

TAP and JAZZ Gabby joined the staff of the Pointe Academy in 2018. A natural performer and lover of the arts, Gabby Leonard is an up and coming dancer currently based in Des Moines. As a dancer, she grew up as a student of Mary Joyce Lind, founder of Iowa Dance Theatre, and now works with students and teachers at several dance studios around the metro, including the Pointe Academy and the Dance Place. Gabby satisfies her love of performance by dancing in POINTE ACADEMY DANCE ENSEMBLE shows and Iowa Dance theatre productions. She is a stellar tap teacher. Her classes are fun and creative and we are delighted to have her on the team.