A Nutcracker to Remember in Grinnell
A community–college partnership brings professional ballet and local young dancers together on one Grinnell stage
At the end of November, the College, Grinnell School of Music, and the Grinnell Area Arts Council worked together to bring the Ballet Des Moines’ professional production of The Nutcracker to Grinnell. Notably, this performance also brought together 30 Grinnell area young dancers to collaborate with the professional ballerinas. Leading up to the performance, the Des Moines Ballet collaborated with these students to gracefully integrate them into the production.
Grinnell College’s Director of Community and Government Relations, Sarah Smith, said, “This performance was a beautiful example of what can happen when our community comes together around the arts. Seeing local students share the stage with Ballet Des Moines’ professionals was not only inspiring — it showed what meaningful collaboration can make possible in Grinnell. We’re proud to help create these opportunities and look forward to supporting more partnerships that bring joy, creativity, and connection to our community.”
The performance took place in the Grinnell High School auditorium with attendance reaching record numbers for performing arts in the Grinnell area. Over 800 individuals purchased tickets and filled the auditorium with their support for the arts and the local community.
Judy Hunter, a community member who was part of a group of citizens who worked on design of the auditorium, shared. “This was exactly the kind of event we dreamed of when we built the Grinnell High School auditorium. Seeing professional dancers perform alongside our local students in a classic ballet right here in our community was truly inspiring. I can’t imagine the amount of work required to bring a production of this caliber to Grinnell. The performance was wonderful, and the exceptional team that made it possible deserves our deepest thanks.”
As Hunter acknowledges, this collaboration highlights the impact of strong community partnerships while also affirming the value of the arts in the town of Grinnell. The College is grateful to have been a part of this effort and enthusiastic about the potential of future collaborations in our community.
