JOHNSTON, IOWA (December 1, 2020) — In a time where in-person performing arts are nearly impossible, Iowa PBS is collaborating with Ballet Des Moines to bring inspiration to audiences across Iowa and beyond. The ballet company's 2020 season will include three programs, collectively called Acts of Resilience | Courage | Vision | Spirit. The first installment, Courage, will premiere Friday, December 18, 8:30PM, and repeat Sunday, December 20, 1PM.
Acts of Resilience | Courage showcases Peter and the Wolf, written by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev to introduce children to different orchestra instruments. Ballet Des Moines, the Belin String Quartet and woodwinds from the Des Moines Symphony team up for a world-premiere performance marrying this famous symphonic fairytale with dance. A narrator weaves the story into the music and dance, while effortlessly entertaining and educating the audience.
"We couldn't be more excited to collaborate with Ballet Des Moines and present this incredible series to Iowans, and Peter and the Wolf is the perfect performance to introduce our audience to Acts of Resilience," said Iowa PBS Producer and Director Theresa Knight. "Ballet lovers, classical-music lovers, educators, parents, and young and old alike will connect with this orchestra favorite."
Recorded in the Maytag Auditorium at Iowa PBS, Peter and the Wolf is not only a stage performance, but a well-rounded partnership between Iowa PBS and Ballet Des Moines that will encompass online educational content, as well as behind-the-scenes interviews with musicians and dancers.
"We are confident that this project with the Civic Music Association will not only enrich thousands of lives, from students to artists to young audiences across the country, but also invest in Des Moines' arts sector in a meaningful way," said Ballet Des Moines Executive Director Blaire Massa. "This multifaceted collaboration captured on the Iowa PBS stage speaks to the collective strength of Des Moines' arts community and proves our region's resilience and strength."
This groundbreaking partnership between dance, music, and video arts expands the world of ballet and makes this breathtaking art-form more accessible than ever. Those who may not have had many previous experiences with ballet will get a fresh perspective with up-close and personal videography and insights. Additionally, Iowa PBS Education will create a selection of bespoke learning opportunities targeted for PBS LearningMedia and virtual classrooms during the school year.
Stay tuned through Spring 2021 for Acts of Resilience | Vision and Acts of Resilience | Spirit.
In addition to its statewide broadcast, Iowa PBS .1 is available to livestream on iowapbs.org/watch, pbs.org/livestream, the PBS Video App, and YouTube TV. Iowa PBS programs, behind-the-scenes extras, and more can be enjoyed on iowapbs.org, Facebook, and YouTube. Viewers can also stream their favorite shows on demand using the PBS Video App, available on iOS, Android, and many streaming devices.
Learn more at iowapbs.org.
About Iowa PBS
Iowa PBS is formerly known as Iowa Public Television. New name. Same essential mission.
As Iowa's only statewide television network, Iowa PBS's mission to educate, inform, enrich, and inspire Iowans guides its quality, non-commercial programming that tells Iowa's stories like no one else can. Four statewide, public channels offer programs of lasting value to Iowans, regardless of where they live or what they can afford: Iowa PBS .1, Iowa PBS KIDS .2, Iowa PBS WORLD .3 and Iowa PBS Create .4 on Channel 11, Des Moines; Channel 12, Iowa City; Channel 21, Fort Dodge; Channel 24, Mason City; Channel 27, Sioux City; Channel 32, Waterloo; Channel 32, Council Bluffs; Channel 36, Davenport; and Channel 36, Red Oak. More information can be found at iowapbs.org.
About Ballet Des Moines
Under the Artistic Direction of Serkan Usta, Ballet Des Moines was launched as a professional ballet company in 2012, bringing world-class performing artists to the Des Moines community for classical and contemporary main stage productions. Ballet Des Moines offers training opportunities for pre-professional dancers and engages thousands of local youth each year through rich educational and outreach programs.
