Janice Baker started working with Iowa Dance Theatre’s founder Mary Joyce Lind’s first ballet company, the Des Moines Civic Ballet. She participated in many productions, starting with the 1975 Nutcracker, performing as a Doll and Snowflake, as well as serving as Assistant to the Director. Janice has been active in Iowa Dance Theatre since its inception. She was Assistant Director of IDT’s first Nutcracker ballet in 1985, and was a Nutcracker Rehearsal Director / Choreographer through 2004, returning again in 2015. She is currently a part of the Artistic Team for Iowa Dance Theatre’s annual production of Nutcracker at the Civic Center. She has been Production Coordinator of IDT’s annual production of Dracula for over 15 years.
Janice has served on the dance faculty for the Performing Arts degree at Iowa State University since 1984. Her teaching responsibilities include all levels of ballet, jazz, tap and social dance. She also specializes in methods of teaching dance for public education and adaptation of dance for special populations. Janice has been a judge for the Bill Riley Show for over 20 years. Her work has represented VSA of Iowa at the International Festival in Washington, DC.
Ms. Baker is the Director of The Dance Place – a center for traditional and creative dance for children and adults in Des Moines.