For the week of January 21 - 27, 2004

Becoming the best
in the West

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

Dance season kicks its long and expressive legs into gear this weekend with a performance by Idaho’s premier contemporary dance company.

Dancers Yurek Hansen and Leif Hansen perform "Cabala" for Idaho Dance Theatre. Courtesy photo

Idaho Dance Theatre will be performing at The Community School Theater in Sun Valley on Saturday, Jan. 24 and 25. The program, co-presented by Footlight Dance Centre, The Community School and Idaho Dance Theatre, comprises a wide variety of new dances especially created for the company's 15th anniversary of presenting dance in Idaho.

Begun by Marla and Fred Hansen and Carl Rowe in 1989 in Boise, Idaho Dance is a company still in evolution. In fact, this is the year they have marked for change.

"No arts group can stand still. We have to change and elevate the company to a new level," Rowe said. "Our goal is to become one of the best dance companies in the West. We have to challenge everyone in the company to be better. It’s easy to become complacent, but there’s no reason we can’t reach higher. Dance can be excellent in any corner of the world."

The perception in Boise is that the Idaho Dance Company is a student company because they use rehearsal space and perform at Boise State University. "We don’t agree with this perception, it’s never been the case, but perception is a hard thing to change," Rowe said.

To aid in changing that concept IDT has moved into offices in downtown Boise, complete with its own studio. "We are our own entity. We use BSU rehearsal space, but in that respect we’re not much different than the other professional companies in town."

Meanwhile, the connections are strong between IDT and the Wood River Valley, initially and significantly due to the partnership of Hilarie Neely of Footlight Dance Centre and Carl Rowe. Together, in 1980, they formed and preformed as the Idaho Dance Ensemble, based in Sun Valley. As well, one of Neely’s former students, Alex Stabler, a 2003 Wood River High School graduate, is dancing with IDT, and will be seen in several of the dances.

The program this weekend at The Community School consists of five dances.

"The concert as a whole will evokes many different kinds of moods," Rowe said. "It’s an art form that’s capable of expressing anything. Expect the dance to be all kind of things, not in a literal way, but evocative."

Both Hansens and Rowe have choreographed dances that will be staged at The Community School.

The guest artists, John Swarthout and Kelli Brown, are new to the company as choreographers.

Brown dances with IDT. Her featured dance is titled "Ice-Water-Mist."

Swarthout, who at one time danced with the famed Eliot Feld Ballet in New York, teaches dance to school children in Boise.

Musically, IDT has long been attracted to unusual rhythms and composers. Rowe’s piece, "Rorschach" is danced to a piece by the innovative Dutch group Flairck.

"It’s very rhythmically complex and fun, very moody and very happy. The perception—like a Rorschach test—is very individual. It’s a journey, like being in a museum looking at different pieces, but it hangs together really well."

Curtain time on Saturday is 8 p.m. The Sunday performance is at 3 p.m.

Ticket prices are $20 for adults, $10 for non-Community School students and Community School faculty, and $8 for Community School students.

Tickets are available at the Chapter One Bookstore, in Ketchum, or by calling IDT in Boise at 208-331-9592.

 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.