Where's IDT?

     If you happened to miss it this morning, the IDT studio was the host to Larry Gebert and the Channel 7 Morning News. We got up super early to help promote our upcoming show. After a cup (or two) of coffee we were able to get our bodies moving and showcase some of the amazing choreography that will be part of our Fall Performance. We became the backdrop to our dear friend Larry, who also MC's our annual Gala. Many thanks to Larry and Channel 7 for stopping by our studio.

     If you have yet to purchase tickets for our upcoming show, please visit our website for info and ticket sales @ http://www.idahodancetheatre.org/ . It's fast approaching and the best seats are selling fast.

See you at the show!

~Gonzalo 

The Magic Lamp

     What happens when an unhappy Dish Washer stumbles across a magic lamp? Well in this case he gets 7 wishes from a very unusual genie. This genie happens to be a choreographer who grants wishes through dance. “The Magic Lamp” is this year’s outreach program, performed by the IDT dancers, which teaches elementary students the art of dance in a 45 minute scripted school show.
    

     I play the dish washer who is very unhappy with his job and finds a magic lamp in his load of dishes. Upon rubbing it he meets the genie, played by Yurek, and the genies assistants. Wish after wish the dish washer discovers how fun African, Ballet, Contemporary, Tap, Hip Hop and Jazz are. His final wish is to have a job that doesn’t have a dish within a mile, but it turns out it’s not up the genies dancing alley. So he is advised that it’s in his own power to find that job. He is told to go back to school and he will never have to wash a dish again.

     Every year the school show has a strong message and this year students are encouraged to stay in school and find a career that they will love to do. Just like the genie, this outreach program is also very unique and unusual. Apart from demonstrating the different types of dance, it offers lots and lots of interaction. Throughout the show the students are taught partnering, rhythm, coordination and isolations. Each element involves the students to participate either individually or as a group. Crazy costumes and beautiful backdrops help the show become very effective, entertaining and visually engaging. If you are interested in seeing or bringing “The Magic Lamp” to your child’s elementary school please contact our managing director Becky @ (208) 331-9592. Poof!

~Gonzalo

IDT: Tough Enough To Wear Pink

On Saturday morning Mary Kate, Lia, Melynda, Gonzalo, and I exercised our bodies and supported the Susan G. Komen Foundation when we participated in "Get Moving for the Cure." We did an intense 30 minute work out with Brett Denton and all of his helpers at Knockout Body Bootcamps. Team "I Dig Ta-tas" for Idaho Dance (after an intense work out mind you) competed in the final two competitions and we proudly won the "plank-off". In the plank-off as a team we had to relay-style hold a plank position longer than any other team. But to throw in a twist, as the competition wound down to us and a final couple of teams, Brett kept making it harder and harder by making us take one hand and one foot off the ground. We excitedly cheered each other along as we watched our opponents drop from the competition. The other contestants who were watching also joined in on the cheers and it came down to myself and another man. I felt strength from my team and persevered to take home the big W!

 

We came together as a company to support our community and join in in the efforts of eradicating breast cancer. We had an absolute blast and it was great to be out exercising with our community. As we were told in the inspirational speech that we received in the beginning: we became strong like the mighty redwoods because we were grouped together to show our support as a community. It was a wonderful experience that I will cherish always.

 ~ Caitlin

New Season

          As summer comes to an end and the city of trees begins to change color, we return to the studio to begin yet another exciting season of dance. We are busy in the studio getting back in shape and creating our fall show scheduled for November. We are super excited to have most of last season's dancers return and also the addition of a new dancer, Elizabeth Henscheid.
         This season marks the 22nd year of Idaho Dance Theatre and it promises to be full of exciting new works and old favorites by both of our artistic directors and guest choreographers. A month into rehearsal we have lots of great choreography set and we will be having an open rehearsal this Friday, October 8th. If you are interested in attending to see a preview of the work being created please contact our managing director Becky @ 208-331-9592.  

Summer

Summer time means healing time, well almost. As the season comes to an end and every muscle and joint in our bodies ache from a very successful year, we look forward to summer. For the most part we use this time to rest and heal all those bruises and injuries we might have acquired throughout the season. Funny enough, most of our audience doesn't realize that almost every single one of us dancers is dealing with an injury, but as artists and performers we never let those things come in the way of show time!

Summer is also used to train and take classes throughout the country. At this very moment we have company members taking dance classes from Oregon to New York. We use this time to expand our knowledge of movement and experience new techniques and styles. A great dancer is a versatile dancer and one who is able to conquer any style. IDT is a great company for that same reason. We have numerous choreographers that range in style and movement. That is what makes every show amazing.

Another summer activity for a dancer is to teach. As professionals we get hired to teach at various dance intensives and workshops. Idaho Dance Theatre along with Boise State University have a workshop of their very own, Summer DanceFest.

Since 1990, Summer DanceFest has become one of the most distinguished and unique dance workshops in the Pacific Northwest. Summer DanceFest offers the highest quality training for today's dancer during two weeks of intensive training in ballet, pointe, men's class, pas de duex, jazz, and modern dance. It is the place to gain technique, core strength, versatility of style and performing experience. Summer DanceFest 2010 will run from June 14ht - 26th. At the end of the workshop a dance concert is presented open to the public. For more info visit https://sites.google.com/a/boisestate.edu/dancefest/ . Some of the SDF faculty include current IDT company members Mary Kate Sickel, Alia Kelley and Gonzalo Valdez

Check out the following pictures from last years workshop.

End of Chapter 21

There is no greater feeling than finishing our 21st season with a great performance run. “Motion Pictures” was the title of our final dance concert, which was very well received by our amazing audience. The show consisted of two of Marla Hansen’s past favorites, “Face The Wind” and “Amazing Grace”. “Amazing Grace” was originally performed by Marla and her husband Fred, who is now our technical director and lighting designer extraordinaire!

The show also had two new works from Carl Rowe and Yurek Hansen, both of which brought a different element to the show. “One Oh One”, Carl’s new piece, closed the show and left the audience wanting to get up and dance. After the show the energy in the lobby was sky rocketing. This was Carl’s number one hundred and one piece choreographed on IDT, thus the name. Talk about an incredible accomplishment!

This year brought a great sense of accomplishment and fulfillment for all of us dancers. We worked with numerous amazing choreographers and were part of extraordinary pieces of work. We couldn’t be more appreciative and thankful to all of those that made this season extra special, which includes everyone from our audience to our artistic directors to our board members and of course all of our wonderful volunteers that helped in every way possible.

We work hard in the studio and in rehearsal everyday to produce a concert that will hopefully be enjoyable and inspirational. On behalf of all of the Idaho Dance Theatre dancers, THANK YOU!

Treasure Hunt

Idaho Dance Theatre’s Educational Outreach Program is a large part of what makes our company unique. Each season our directors either create a new show or pull one from the vast library of completed scripts. Our themed show is engaging, interactive, and helps to educate children in our schools on the diversity of dance and movement in general. Our scripts are typically written for an average of six dancers who find themselves on a journey of sorts.

We travel to many schools in our community and perform our 45 minute show either once or twice depending on the size of the school. In an average season we perform anywhere between 20 to 40 shows. We have a set that we bring in that includes a curtain with backdrops to help indicate scene changes, and a complete sound system. We also have several costume changes, and we like to use several different props for dramatic intent.

As dancers we memorize the script, practice speaking outward to an audience, and spend time developing our characters. Collaboratively we create dances or put together bits of learned choreography to fit our journey. Our intent is to put in as many different dance elements or forms possible. Therefore, we create a tap dance, a jazz or hip hop dance, cultural dances, and of course ballet. In addition we involve the students in learning movement sequences, rhythms, partnering, and more. The show always ends with a large freestyle group dance between the dancers, students, and even the teachers.

This season our show is titled The Treasure Hunt. Our goal is to find clues with help from the students in order to reach the final prize at the end. It turns out not to be a pot of gold, but rather the fun and joyous memories that we shared along the way. As Gonzalo says in the show “… the fun was the treasure!”

So far we have done quite a few shows and they have been wonderful. We get such great feedback from the teachers. Many of them continually tell us that our assembly is their favorite and it is the perfect blend of interaction, education, and just plain fun. If you would like to come and see a show, contact Becky our managing director and she will get you all of the information.