collaborators

Lacey Bernhardt

Lacey Bernhardt began her dance training at age 4 at Pat Harris School of Dance. She transitioned to Echo School of Dance where she competed for five years. Lacey also focused on dance during her summers attending intensives at BYU, Ballet West, Jillana, Dance West, and Summer Dancefest. Although homeschooled, Lacey danced and competed with Mountain View High School's Millennium Dancers. Lacey's solos have won awards for Best Choreography, Best Contemporary and Second Overall for Miss BYDC. Lacey has attended conventions from across the country and taken classes from Broadway Dance Center in NY. After graduating with an Associate’s in History through CWI, Lacey will be attending BSU to complete a Bachelor's. She is excited to continue performing with IDT and is grateful to be part of such a wonderful community.

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.

Kali Dey

Kali Dey was born and raised in Anchorage Alaska. Kali is an award-winning dancer, singer, actress, performer, and choreographer. At 17 Kali was chosen to tour China as a Ballet Ambassador to China performing the Ballet adaptation of “Aladdin” with Long Beach Ballet, Guangzhou Ballet, and Etute Ballet. Kali performed the youth solo lead as Fritz and Waltz of the Flowers with Eugene Ballet “The Nutcracker” at age 12 & 13. Kali began her pre-professional dance training with Alaska Dance Theatre where she studied Ballet, Contemporary, Modern, Jazz, Tap & Broadway. Kali attended intensives and workshops to study with professionals including Long Beach Ballet, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Eugene Ballet, Ballet West, Ballet Austin, Chinese National Ballet, and Etute Ballet. She also attended competitions including YAGP & NUVO winning multiple awards and scholarships. At 13, Kali attended the ARTS program with Kim Myers performing in Dance, Singing, Acting, Television, Comedy, Commercials and Film where she was awarded Scholarship to New York Film Academy for their Summer training program at Universal Studios LA. Kali has Choreographed dances for NUVO and “On the Verge” ADT student showcase, as well as teaching at several local studios. Kali Dey was selected as a 2020 US Congressional Intern in Washington DC and is pursuing a Bachelor of Business degree majoring in Finance, minor in Dance, and a Nonprofit Certificate at Boise State University with plans to further her education at New York Law Institute studying Fashion Law. Miss Dey has performed with Idaho Dance Theatre since 2020. Performing in “The Story Unfolds,” “Follow Your Passion” and “Bodies of Art” Her mentors include Danielle Tolmie and Mark Tucker, Farah Zoetmulder, Melissa Jabaay, Mr. David Wilcox, Ilya Burov, Kristen Vierthaler, Blair Robinson, and Marla Hansen. Kali looks forward to seeing friendly familiar faces from onstage while continuing dancing with IDT and is grateful for IDT’s community!

Talla Gass

Talla was born and raised in Missoula, MT where she began her dance training at OnCenter Performing Arts at the age of 3. Proficient in ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, and musical theater, Talla performed with the OnCenter Performing Arts company for eight years in several local performances. In addition, Talla has danced in the Garden City Ballet’s Nutcracker for 10 years performing various leading roles. Talla has also trained with Ballet West, Ballet Austin, and Alonzo King Lines Ballet through their summer programs. After graduating high school in 2018, she attended George Mason University to receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and her minor in Business. During her time at the School of Dance, Talla had the opportunity to work with esteemed guest artists and faculty members including: Hope Boykin, Christopher D’Amboise, Susan Shields, David Parsons, Alejandro Cerrudo, and the Mark Morris Dance Group. In addition to performing, Talla has had the opportunity to create numerous contemporary works that have been performed onstage at George Mason University. Talla currently teaches at Dance Arts Academy and is incredibly excited to be dancing her first season with Idaho Dance Theatre.

Piper hammond

Piper Hammond is from Long Beach, California and began her classical ballet training with Long Beach Ballet at the age of 4.  She had the opportunity to attend multiple summer intensives including American Ballet Theatre and Joffrey San Francisco.  In 2019 Piper was selected and hired by the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra to perform The Dying Swan at the Terrace Theatre for their annual concerts and gala.  She was cast in various performance for Long Beach Ballet including lead Mirliton in The Nutcracker.  Piper also traveled to Phoenix, Arizona as a member of Long Beach Ballet’s Senior Company for the Regional Dance America National Festival.  She is currently a sophomore at BSU studying Kinesiology and is thrilled for her first season with IDT as an apprentice.

Yurek Hansen

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 for 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.

John Heins

Composer

Once described by Alan Hovhaness as "One of the most talented and brilliant composers of our time", John Heins and his music  have garnered considerable praise over the past four decades. His compositions have been performed throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Heins’ compositional output includes works for symphonic band and orchestra, as well as numerous solo piano works, chamber music, and concertos. Heins received a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition from the University of Montana and a Master of Music degree in Composition and Performance from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He studied composition with Donald O. Johnston and Cecil Effinger. His compositions have been published by C.F. Peters, Southern Music, KJOS Music and Ars Nova Music.

CLAIRE HINDRUP

Claire Hindrup grew up in Olympia, Washington, and started dancing at two years old. She began her dance training, specializing in classical ballet technique and pointe at the age of 7 at Studio West Dance Academy. At SWDA, she performed a variety of roles in full-length ballets such as Mirliton Lead in the Nutcracker, Neapolitan Lead in Swan Lake, Swanhilda’s friend in Coppelia, and a Willi in Giselle. She also was selected to perform in pieces choreographed by Pacific Northwest Ballet Soloist Joshua Grant in 2018, 2019, and 2020 for various galas and festivals.

Claire attended summer intensives at Oregon Ballet Theater and Ballet Austin, where she received high-level ballet, partnering, contemporary, and repertory training as well as participating in her home studio’s summer intensive, which included choreographing experience. She is well versed in classical ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, and pointe work. 

Claire came to Boise, Idaho and discovered Idaho Dance Theatre through her enrollment at Boise State University, where she is majoring in Integrated Media and Strategic Communications and minoring in Dance. She is excited to be dancing with IDT in it’s 35th season.

Leora Jones

Leora Jones was born in Liberia and grew up in Boise Idaho, graduating from Timberline High School in 2023. Her love for dance started early, beginning dance classes at the age of four. Leora has danced with Boise Ballet Academy, being trained classically in American Ballet Theater technique and graduated from their academy in 2023. She has also trained at Ballet Idaho Academy, Long Beach Ballet, and Idaho Dance Theater. She has participated and danced many roles including the Nutcracker and Ballet Idaho’s professional production of Midsummer Nights Dream. She competed in Las Vegas Youth American Grand Prix in 2023, and finished in the top 24 for the Classical Solo Senior Division. She also competed in a Ballet Contemporary ensemble piece Choreographed by Mads Eriksen at the 2023 YAGP Finals in Florida. She is so excited to pursue dance as a profession and grateful for the opportunity to be able to dance for Idaho Dance theater for there 2023/2024 season.

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.

JULI DRANEY

Juli Draney is a professional pianist, teacher composer and arranger in Boise, Idaho. She has accompanied class at Ballet Idaho for nearly two decades. She has worked with many renowned dancers and teachers, including a recent position at the Jillana School in New Mexico. She was the company pianist for the internationally acclaimed, Boise-based Trey McIntyre Project dance company for their six-year tenure. Juli also finds deep fulfillment in playing for Boise's weekly Dance for Parkinson's Disease classes as well as ballet classes for Idaho Regional Ballet. Juli has performed on stage with Ballet Idaho, Opera Idaho, and Boise Dance Co-op as well as various jazz, R&B, rock, and chamber groups. She frequently serves as a board member for the Treasure Valley Music Teachers Association, affiliate of Music Teachers National Association. Juli has also written and produced a book and rock/opera/ballet called “Henry’s Halloween” which is scheduled to be revived for Halloween 2024.

Nathan powell

Nathan Powell is a dancer, teacher and choreographer based in Boise Idaho. Originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, he received his professional training at Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet School where he won the CIBC World Markets award for Innovation at the First Steps Choreographic Competition in 2004. He won a RBC Youth Excellence Scholarship in 2006 as a member of Festival Dance at the Banff Centre. Nathan performed with Northern Plains Ballet for one season before joining Festival Ballet Providence for three seasons under Mihailo Djuric. At FBP he danced many of the classic ballets, Agnes De Milles, Rodeo and Antony Tudor’s, Leaves are Fading, among others. He danced with Ballet San Antonio before joining Ballet Idaho in 2011 where he danced for for nine seasons. At Ballet Idaho he danced principal roles in Balanchine’s Serenade, The Nutcracker, Scheherezade, and Swan Lake. He has performed as a guest artist in numerous places across the country, including Lincoln Midwest Ballet, Anchorage Ballet and Sun Valley Ballet. Nathan has spent several summers with Ballet Montana under Sallyann Mulcahy who commissioned from him two choreographic works. Nathan has choreographed frequently for Ballet Idaho including memorable works such as “Timepiece” and “Suite” His work, “What you Wanted for Me”, was selected from a pool of over 200 applicants to be a part of the Dance Gallery Festival at Sam Houston State University in Hunstville, TX in October 2017. He has also choreographed works for Anchorage Ballet, Ballet Montana, Northern Plains Dance, and the Boise Dance Co-op. In 2021, Nathan was selected as artistic director and choreographer for that year’s Black Hill Dance Theatre production of “The Nutcracker” where he created a brand new full length production of the ballet with over 100 dancers. He is an avid teacher of dance and teaches a number of ballet classes regularly including a Dance for Parkinson’s class. Nathan has taught as a guest instructor for Youth Ballet of Saskatchewan, North Ballet Academy (MN), Sun Valley Ballet, Anchorage Ballet and Idaho Dance Theatre’s Summer DanceFest workshop. Nathan is excited to have a chance to choreograph and dance and lead Idaho Dance Theatre.

Jacob Ramey

Lighting Designer for Follow Your Passion

Director of AV Events and Experiences at Platinum TDM. Jacob WP Ramey graduated from Otterbein University in 2012 with a BFA in Design Technology focusing on Lighting Design and Production Management. He has spent 15 years in the industry from Broadway Theatre to TV, to National Tours, Large Festivals, and now Virtual Events! He has activated brands from New York to San Francisco and everywhere in between. He believes every event should be fun and professional, and everyone involved should have an amazing experience.

Lemuel Reagan

Lemuel Reagan started dancing when he was seventeen. He grew up in Fairfield Idaho, a 45- minute drive from the nearest dance studio. Lemuel trained at Footlight Dance Centre, directed by Hilarie Neely, where he studied a variety of styles ranging from modern dance to ballet. Lemuel also trained at BSU’s Summer Dancefest, which provided him training that advanced him further in his pursuit of dance. In addition, in 2016 Lemuel attend a three week Commedia Dell'arte workshop. At the workshop he found new ways to project stories with his gestures and body movements. For the last three years Lemuel has been training with IDT and pursuing a BA in Theater Arts at Boise State University. During his time at IDT he has grown as a dancer and a person. He is grateful for the support that his parents and sister have given him through the years and to his teachers who have had the patience to cultivate his potential.

Maria Salo

Maria is a native of Helena, Montana and moved to Boise after graduating from Carroll College in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in management. Maria danced with Ballet Idaho and Eugene Ballet Company for two years under artistic director Toni Pimble. She spent many years dancing with Ballet Montana, formerly Artisan Dance Company, under her mentor and artistic director, Sallyann Mulcahy, and guest artistic director Arnold Spohr of Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Most recently, Maria spent five years dancing and performing with Explore Dance Company, a multi-genre experience. She previously danced with Ballet Chicago Studio Company under Daniel Duell, of New York City Ballet, and Patricia Blair. She attended Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania majoring in Dance Performance where she received both dance and academic scholarships and performed with Lake Erie Ballet Company. At Mercyhurst she worked with renowned instructors Christopher Tabor, Tauna Hunter, Michael Gleason, Christine Hay and Mark Santillano performing a wide variety of works. Maria has attended Interlochen Arts Festival where she received the Fine Arts Award in Ballet, Banff Centre for the Arts and Joffrey in San Antonio, Texas, as recommended by former coach Judy Rice. She is performing in her favorite role as mom to her three incredible young men and is overjoyed to be dancing with Idaho Dance Theatre.

Libby Schmoeger

Libby Schmoeger was born and raised in the lovely city of Boise, Idaho. She has trained in ballet, modern, jazz, hip-hop, acrobatics/tumbling and done a little aerial work. From the time she was nine years old until she graduated from high school, Libby was part of Balance Dance Company, under the direction of Leah Stevens. She also trained at the University of Utah where she was a modern dance major. She has performed with Drop Dance Collective, Boise Dance Co-Op, and Off Center Dance, where she had the opportunity to choreograph new works on the company. Libby currently teaches ballet at The Spot Dance Studio. When she isn’t dancing, she loves being outdoors fishing, or attempting a new craft she found on Pinterest. This is Libby’s second season with Idaho Dance Theatre.

Phoebe Seibel

Phoebe Seibel, an Idahoan at heart, was born in Olympia, Washington. Growing up, she enjoyed many activities such as horse riding, skiing, competitive swimming, and dancing; though dance and horse riding soon became her main passions. She was surprised to find how closely the movements and body awareness are related in dance and horse riding, and although dance eventually became her leading interest, she has found that her experience on horses influences her dancing to this day. She started dancing at Treasure Valley Ballet Academy, where she focused on ballet and jazz, then continued her classical ballet training at Capital City Ballet Center and Eagle Performing Arts Center. She has cherished getting to dance in Nutcrackers with the San Diego Ballet and Eugene Ballet. Throughout the years, she has been blessed to have had many wonderful teachers, some of whom she met at EPAC and Summer Dancefest intensives. Phoebe is currently pursuing her Associates of Applied Science degree in Cisco Networking and Cybersecurity at the College of Western Idaho. When she’s not dancing, she loves cooking, urban sketching, and spending time with her crazy dogs and family. Phoebe is thrilled to start the 2023-2024 season with IDT as an apprentice, and is grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an amazing community.