Collaborators
Directors
Nicole Ferguson
Yurek Hansen
Managing Director
Artistic Director
Yurek was born into the dancing family of Alfred and Marla Hansen and raised on tour and backstage of the American Festival Ballet. He began receiving training with his parents, but continued more formally with IDT and Boise State University’s Summer DanceFest workshop, in addition to study in Suzuki actor training and Viewpoints with Anne Bogart's SITI Co. and multiple martial arts and dance forms. Yurek has danced 22 plus seasons with IDT, during which time he performed in approximately 150 original works and choreographed over 15 works. He spent a month in Guinea with his friend and West African dance/drum teacher, Manimou Camara, training in the traditional rhythms and dances of the peoples of West Africa. He has performed in many diverse events including the Boise Creative and Improvised Music Festival, RawArtists, Ballet Bellevue, Little School of Dance in Kodiak AK, Ballet Idaho, EPAC, with Manimou Camera for the Seattle International Dance Festival, Treefort music festival, Boise’s Tour de Fat and Boise Dance Co-op. He has been an adjunct instructor at BSU for approximately 15 years teaching ballet, modern, men's class and repertory dance in addition to choreographing for Theatre and Music department productions, most recently in spring 2022 "Sponge Bob, the Musical". Yurek has also taught for Treasure Valley Institute for Children’s Arts, Ballet Idaho, Eagle Arts Charter School, BSU Summer DanceFest workshop, Methods of Movement, Footlight, Columbia Dance, Cornish University, and Grand Valley State University. Yurek has performed with the SunValley Summer Symphonies in L'Histoire du Soldat, and with LED (Lauren Edson+Dancers) performing her works in Boise, NYC, NY, and across the nation.
Nicole was raised in Eugene, OR where she was introduced to theatre, stage performance and tech, which she remained heavily involved with through school. After studying business and restaurant management in college, she spent time taking advantage of the art/music scene in Portland where she lived a short time before moving to Boise in 2013. Originally intending only to be here for a year or two, she fell in love with the gorgeous state of Idaho’s expansive outdoor playground and pursued rock climbing and trail exploring for a number of years. Now primarily training in martial arts, Nicole has supplemented her athletic lifestyle with a long background in service industry and a myriad of odd jobs that has built an adaptable skillset for many challenges. Inspired by IDT’s valuable artistic and educational impact in our community, she was thrilled to be invited to join the Board of Directors by Marla Hansen in 2022. Excited to help IDT grow and succeed in any way she can, she honors this valuable learning experience and trust of the company to help manage daily operations and continue the company’s mission.
Our 37th Season collaborators
Zackary Anderson
Bio coming soon…
Lacey Bernhardt
Lacey Bernhardt has lived in Meridian, Idaho for practically her whole life. She began her dance training at age 4 and discovered a lifelong passion. Lacey attended various dance studios across Meridian and Boise and furthered her technique during the summer by attending dance intensives. After she obtained her Associate’s in History through CWI, Lacey sought to continue dancing and decided to join IDT in 2021 while she completed her Bachelor's degree at BSU. She graduated with honors in 2023 and is now teaching dance. Lacey is excited to continue performing with IDT and deeply appreciates being part of such a wonderful community!
Sydney Blood
Sydney Blood began her dance training at age three at Sandy’s Danceworks Studio and continued throughout high school, gaining proficiency in ballet, tap, jazz, and contemporary dance. She also danced with Boise Dance Alliance during her senior year, attending competitions and conventions across the valley and in Utah and going on to teach at the studio after graduation. She was also a member of the Borah High School dance team for four years, competing as a soloist and with her team. During her freshman year of college, Sydney attended Utah State University where she trained, performed, and choreographed with the USU Dance Company and taught at LaShars Dance Studio in Logan. Now attending Boise State University, Sydney is studying for a degree in English Literature and beginning her IDT journey as an apprentice Fall 2024.
Sophie Dalbratt
Sophie Dalbratt grew up in San Diego, California where she began her dance training at Neisha’s Dance and Music Academy when she was 3 years old. She competed in all styles of dance such as ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, and hip hop from the ages of 7 to 15. While competing Sophie received scholarships from conventions such as Adrenaline Dance, Jump Dance and Nuvo Dance Convention. Sophie was a member of Chula Vista Ballet Company from 2012-2015 and performed excerpts from Coppelia, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, as well as short story ballets such as, Snow White, Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland. From the ages of 6 to 11, she was accepted to perform in the Nutcracker with Moscow Ballet. Sophie attended Kirov Academy of Ballet Summer Intensive in 2012 on scholarship as well as Radford University Ruby Program Summer Intensive in 2015. Sophie began teaching and choreographing at her home studio at the age of 17 and continues to choreograph for Bonita Vista High School, Get to The Pointe Dance Company. She began her professional dance career at age 18 in 2019 where she dedicated her first year out of high school to focus on training and auditioning in San Diego and Los Angeles. Sophie moved to Boise, Idaho in 2020 to begin her first year as an apprentice with Idaho Dance Theatre. She is very grateful for the opportunity to be part of this company that allows her to expand her knowledge in dance in a new environment.
Talla Gass
Talla is from Missoula, MT, and began her dance journey at age 3 with OnCenter Performing Arts. Excelling in various styles, including ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, and musical theater, she performed with OnCenter for eight years in local productions. Talla also danced in the Garden City Ballet’s Nutcracker for a decade, taking on leading roles. She trained with Ballet West, Ballet Austin, and Alonzo King Lines Ballet during summer programs. After graduating high school in 2018, she earned her BFA in Dance with a Business minor from George Mason University, collaborating with renowned artists like Hope Boykin, David Parsons, and the Mark Morris Dance Group. In addition to performing, Talla has created contemporary works showcased at GMU. Currently, she teaches at Dance Arts Academy and is excited to continue her passion for dance with Idaho Dance Theatre.
Alia Kelley
Born in Idaho, Alia began her training with Eagle Performing Arts Center and Ballet Idaho. She continued her studies with the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Houston Ballet School’s Professional Division, Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, National Ballet of Canada, Ballet Adratico, Usdan (Dennis Nahat) and the IDT/BSU Summer DanceFest in Boise. Alia has been featured in many IDT works including: Of This Time, Rorschach, Why Wait?, Home Spun, Journey Home, and Catch to name a few.
Libby Straw
Libby Straw (Schmoeger) is a Boise native. She took her first dance classes at Dance Pros, Ballet Idaho, and was a company member with Balance Dance Company, under the direction of Leah Stevens, for nine seasons before attending the University of Utah as a dance major. Libby attended her first Summer Dancefest in 2001 and was lucky enough to be in one of Yurek Hansen’s first pieces. Marla, Yurek, and Idaho Dance Theatre have been an integral part in shaping the dancer, performer, choreographer, friend, and person that Libby is today. She has been an IDT company member since Spring of 2022 and served as Associate Artistic Director and a Board of Trustees officer from 2023
Apprentices:
Vinny Flack
Vincent (Vinny) Flack grew up in Utah where he began his dance training at Starrsteppers at 6 years old. In 2017 when Vinny and his family moved to Idaho, he began training at Methods of Movement in Mountain Home for 5 years before moving to Boise. In the last 12 years, he has trained in hip-hop, jazz, lyrical, ballroom, contemporary, ballet, and modern. He competed for 4 years before moving to Boise and transitioning from the life of competition into focusing on performance art at Idaho Fine Arts Academy in Meridian. Since then he has participated in technical training at Impact Dance Center and Idaho Dance Theatre’s (IDT) Summer Dance Fest since 2024. He has also had the opportunities to work with Lauren Edson, Artistic Director of LED, Dante Puleio, Artistic Director of Limón Dance Co., and Leslie Kraus, Artistic Director of Ririe-Woodbury Dance Co. Vinny is excited to have his first ever apprenticeship with IDT and grow his career as a professional dancer in the arts.
Christian Perry
Bio coming soon…
Graycie Rechenmacher
Bio coming soon…
Alix Smith
Alix is a 17 year old multi-hyphenate in progress originally from Saigon, Vietnam. They have experienced dance styles ranging from ballet to competitive ballroom, but have a special fondness for modern/contemporary dance. This is their first year as an apprentice with IDT and they are excited to see where this journey takes them. When not dancing, they can be found cooking with too much garlic or writing poetry.
Josey Young
Bio coming soon…