Check Out Tess Sinke’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tess Sinke. 

Hi Tess, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
It’s been my dream to have my own ballet company since middle school. My husband Andrew and I made that dream a reality in 2018 with our first performance. 

Our company began with the first-ever COLLIDE Summer Series, bringing dancers from across the country together for a short-term contract during their summer layoff from year-round commitments.  Since 2018, Deos has continued to host dancers for our annual Summer Series. COLLIDE Series 22 was our most successful summer contract yet, bringing together 12 company dancers, 4 student interns, and 2 rehearsal managers for three weeks filled with rehearsals, a collaboration with the Grand Rapids Art Museum, and culminating in sold-out performances and Dance for Film recordings in Jenison, MI. 

Since 2018, Deos has expanded to provide our core dancers (those local to Grand Rapids or those who have relocated to Grand Rapids) performance opportunities and Dance for Film recording contracts throughout the year, with the goal of curating a full season in Grand Rapids and further cementing our footprint in the Michigan dance scene.  Our 2022-2023 season will be the most extensive to date, including blackbox and collaborative outreach performances during the Fall Series, Nutcracker, Winter Series, and Spring Series.  Dancers will work on a new contract for each of the series/performances mentioned. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Things have not always been smooth sailing. Starting an arts organization in itself is a difficult task, add in a global pandemic in the early years, and you have the perfect storm. The pandemic definitely was difficult for us. We had to cancel our summer season and put a lot of big plans on hold. Thankfully we used that time to really focus on re-vamping our systems and processes. My husband and I took a business start-up class, I took an online choreography course, and we used our time to improve our organization so that when things opened back up, we could return stronger than before. 

I am also a mom with two little ones. My son is 2 years old, and my daughter is just three months. My pregnancy with my daughter was pretty rough, and I ended up needing a lot of extra help. It was difficult at times to keep things running at Deos while also managing my health and doing what was best for me and baby. Thankfully, we had a really wonderful team who stepped up and took on additional roles while I was out of commission. Since my daughter’s birth, I’ve been feeling much better and am back in the studio full force. Every now and then, my kids come with me to class and rehearsals. I think it is wonderful that they will grow up surrounded by incredible artists and get to see their parents build something they are passionate about. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a contemporary ballet choreographer. I transitioned into choreography much earlier than most. I became the Resident Choreographer for Turning Pointe School of Dance in Holland, MI, when I was 22 yrs. old instead of pursuing a professional career as a dancer. I wish I could say this transition happened by choice. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with a chronic health condition shortly after graduating from Mercyhurst University. At the time, it was incredibly difficult to give up on a professional dance career after working so hard for so long. Looking back, I’m thankful I was able to step into a choreography role so early because it helped me develop the many tools needed to do what I do now. 

As a choreographer, my “sweet spot” is choreographing dramatic, story-driven works. I’m very inspired by human stories and enjoy bringing characters to life. The dancers of Deos Ballet would probably tell you a “Tess Ballet” isn’t complete without “Etherial Angst” and some “pedestrian running,” and they are absolutely right. We all have movement vocabulary that we gravitate towards. I’m most proud of how far I have grown as a leader. There is so much more to being a choreographer than just creating works. You have to be able to work well with others and take charge of a room in a way that is collaborative, kind, and healthy for the dancers you work with. When we first started Deos in 2018, I was very unsure of myself and didn’t see myself as a leader. I second-guessed and doubted myself a lot. Over the years, I’ve learned so much and feel much more comfortable in this role. I know I am very different from a lot of choreographers and artistic directors, and that’s okay. 

What are your plans for the future?
Deos Ballet has a very exciting year ahead of us. We have expanded outside of the summer months. We start rehearsals next week for our fall performance series, EPILOGUE. Then our dancers will be performing alongside Michigan Ballet Academy in a brand-new production of the Nutcracker, choreographed by Ericka Goss. We will also have our first-ever Winter and Spring performance series before heading into our annual COLLIDE Series during summer 2023. This growth wouldn’t be possible without our growing audience and community support. We are so excited to continue growing! 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.deosballet.com
• Instagram: @deosballet
• Facebook: Deos Contemporary Ballet
• Youtube: Deos Contemporary Ballet

Image Credits
Dave Burgess
616 photography
Jon Clay Photo