MISSION AND HISTORY
Our Mission
Iowa Dance Collective is dedicated to the rigorous study and advancement of dance through a conservatory model of training rooted in classical ballet and modern dance. We believe that a serious education in dance requires both technical discipline and artistic inquiry, grounded in the traditions that have shaped the field.
Our programs are designed to cultivate strong, articulate dancers through sustained study, mentorship, and an environment that values curiosity, integrity, and commitment to the art form. Students are challenged to develop technical clarity, physical intelligence, and a deep understanding of movement as both craft and expression.
By providing this level of training in a supportive and accessible setting, Iowa Dance Collective seeks to prepare dancers for collegiate study, professional opportunities, and a lifelong engagement with dance.
Our History
Iowa Dance Collective was founded to bring conservatory level dance training to a region where such opportunities have historically been limited. Built on a foundation of classical ballet and modern technique, the school was established with the belief that serious artistic training should not be confined to major cultural centers.
Under the direction of Tyler Malone, whose background includes extensive training in ballet and the Graham and Horton modern techniques at Point Park University as well as professional performance with LehrerDance, now know as Jon Lehrer Dance Company, the organization was shaped around a curriculum that prioritizes depth of study and respect for the lineage of the art form.
Rather than emphasizing short term performance outcomes, Iowa Dance Collective was designed as a place for sustained training where students develop the technical foundation, discipline, and artistic awareness necessary for long term growth.
Since its founding, the organization has expanded to include a comprehensive evening training program, the pre professional Malone Dance Theater, a daytime academic dance school for middle and high school students, and a nationally recruited summer intensive.
While the scope of the programs continues to grow, the guiding principle remains constant: to offer serious dance education grounded in ballet and modern technique, and to cultivate artists who approach the discipline of dance with rigor, curiosity, and respect for its history.