BY LISA ENOURATO

 Ballet Idaho will stage a free performance at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, at Ketchum Town Square.

 The City of Ketchum Arts Commission is hosting the Boise-based dance company.

 Ballet Idaho was founded 35 years ago. Its 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. It will also include 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. 

 The dancers:

 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.

The Ketchum Arts Commission was created by the City of Ketchum in 2007 with the objective of integrating arts and culture into the community's life. Among its initiatives are Cover Art, the wrapping of utility boxes in downtown Ketchum, as well as a gondola car on Baldy; Art on Fourth; Street Art, which features manhole covers designed by local artists; Art in City Hall, and the development of policies and plans for public art in the community. 

At the KAC’s initiative, the City recently increased its Percent for Art Ordinance to 5%, from 1.33%, which is higher than any other city in the country.  The KAC is a division of the Ketchum Parks & Recreation Department and receives support from the City of Ketchum, the Ketchum Community Development Corporation (KCDC) and individual donors. It consists of local volunteers who are active in and passionate about the arts.