City of Ketchum Sponsors Free Dance Performance

KETCHUM, IDAHO – The City of Ketchum Arts Commission hosts Boise-based dance company, Ballet Idaho on Saturday, Aug. 3, at 6:30 pm in Ketchum Town Square. Entry for the performance is free.

For over 35 years, Ballet Idaho has been bringing ballet to Idaho. New director, Garrett Anderson, is now leading the company to expanded contemporary work along with the tradition of the classics.

Four Ballet Idaho dancers will be performing with Stephanie Orza serving as emcee. The performance will include a choreographed class demonstration followed by the Summer Pas de Deux from Cinderella, choreographed by Edwaard Lang of BalletMET; an excerpt from Song and Dance But Not at the Same Time, choreographed by Lauren Edson of LED; and two duets to the music of Eydie Gorme, choreographed by Anne Mueller, Ballet Idaho rehearsal director and artistic associate.

Andrew Taft – Ballet Idaho Principal Dancer
Andrew was born in Miami, Florida where he began his classical training at the age of 9 with Ruth Wiesen at the Miami Conservatory. Andrew has danced leading roles with Michael Uthoff Dance Theatre, Miami Ballet, Francis Owen/Cox Dance, Ballet Hawaii and Miami City Ballet. Andrew joined Ballet Idaho in the 2008 season and has been a principal since 2012. He has danced leading roles in Yes, Virginia, Another Piano Ballet, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Pulcinella, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Piano Concerto in G, Firebird and many others.

Jessica Sulikowski – Ballet Idaho Soloist
Jessica grew up in Jackson, New Jersey. She studied dance with Princeton Ballet School and Academy of Dance Arts. This is Jessica’s eleventh season with Ballet Idaho, and she was promoted to the role of soloist for the 2016/17 season. Some of her performance highlights include the Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen and Dew Drop Fairy in The Nutcracker, The Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, and Tiger Lily in Peter Pan. Jessica has performed with Nevada Ballet Theatre, Anchorage Classical Ballet, Project Flux, Boise Dance Co-op, The Bench Musical and at Treefort Music Festival.

Nell Josephine – Ballet Idaho Company Dancer
Nell Josephine Rollins is an Idaho native. She received a BFA in Ballet in May 2018 with a Studio Teaching Certificate from the University of Utah’s School of Dance. Her training began in Boise, Idaho with Balance Dance Company and Ballet Idaho. At 17, she joined the latter as an apprentice, where she had the pleasure of performing Serenade by George Balanchine, and The Nutcracker and Don Quixote by former Artistic Director Peter Anastos. Nell has been a freelance artist since 2013, first performing with LED and Idaho Dance Theater. Nell’s choreography has been recognized at the American Dance College Association (ACDA) and the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP).

Antonio Carnell – Ballet Idaho Company Apprentice
Antonio Carnell was born in St. Louis Missouri and at age 3 moved to Boise with his adoptive family. He started his dance training at Ballet Idaho in the fall of 2009 after being given a full tuition scholarship. Antonio has continued his training in Ballet Idaho’s Academy and was given opportunities to perform alongside Ballet Idaho’s professional company. Antonio has also made multiple appearances in Boise State University’s BSDA program where Boise State students have the opportunity to choreograph a work to be performed in the dance showcase. He has performed with Idaho Dance Theater, Treefort Music Fest and Project Flux. This is his first season as an apprentice with Ballet Idaho.

Photo courtesy of Ballet Idaho