Brandi Breshears

Brandi Breshears has danced for ten years. She began her career as a competitive dancer and gymnast at age seven. For the last couple years she has focused on her dance training, taking classes from Marla Hansen, Kim Machado, Melissa Larson, Kari Hoagland and a variety of guest artists who have come to Boise. She has traveled to conventions throughout the Northwest to further her training and attended Boise State University Summer DanceFest, Ballet Idaho's Giselle Intensive, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, and The Juilliard School's summer dance intensive. She was a performing member of the youth company, On the Verge Dance Co. Brandi was featured in Verve as a company trainee in the 2005-06 season, and in Emerging from Loss in 2006-07. This is her second year as a full company member.

Caitlin Stanley (apprentice)

Caitlin grew up in Twin Falls, Idaho where she has danced since the age of four. She trained for fourteen years wit Kelli Turner at Mauldin's Dance Academy specializing in tap and jazz. During high school Caitlin was choreography captain for the Twin Falls Bruinettes Dance Team. After high school she became a trainee at Ballet Idaho studying with Carol Roderick. Since then she has been at Boise State University studying with Marla Hansen. Caitlin has attended Magic Valley Master classes, IDAA Summer Dance Camp, BSU Summer DanceFest, and more. These intensives gave her the opportunity to work with many great instructors, including Regina Williams, Brian Berry, Nick Zbrowski, and Toni Pimble. In addition to enjoying her work with Idaho Dance Theatre, Caitlin is a full time student at Boise State University majoring in Elementary Education.

 

Casee Hogg

Casee, an Idaho Native, studied with Rhonda Bowden at Dance Pros for four years. She performed for two years with H-Dance Force, directed by Hailey Frisbee. She spent four summers attending the Boise State University Summer DanceFest Workshop, and two years performing with Balance, a youth dance company directed by Leah Clark. During IDT's 2006-07 season Casee was featured in many new works including Tenacious, Thank You for Coming and Caliente. In addition to performing professionally with IDT, Casee is obtaining a degree at Boise State University. She loves to paint, sing, write poetry, and hang out with friends.

Yurek Hansen

A Boise native, Yurek received his training through the dance program at Boise State University and with guest instructors at the annual BSU Summer DanceFest workshop. This is his ninth season as an Idaho Dance Theatre company member. He has been featured in solos and pas de deux in over forty works including Rorschach, Cabala, Friends and Lovers, Chakra, Grit, Night Moods, Sysiphus, Roots, Fraternus, Sphere of Influence, 1964, Prime of Life, and Verve, to name a few. He has seven years performing in Idaho Dance Theatre's Leaps and Bounds Educational Outreach touring program, performing in elementary schools throughout the region. Yurek has also choreographed four works for ther the company. He is an adjunct instructor of ballet at Boise State University and also teaches for the Children's Dance Institute and Ballet Idaho in Boise, and Studio C in Caldwell.  Yurek has also taught a ballet intensive and choreographed for Columbia Dance. He has appeared as a guest artist in Kodiak, Alaska and with Ballet Idaho. Yurek has many interests including playing his many musical instruments, sculpture, philosophy, and tai chi.

Sarah Franco (apprentice)

This is Sarah's first year as an apprentice with Idaho Dance Theatre. Sarah started as a gymnast at age twelve and then began studying ballet age fifteen. She trained at various dance schools in Idaho Falls for two years and participated in two Nutcracker productions. During her senior year of high school she trained at the Marius Zirra School of Ballet in Pocatello, studying ballet, modern and jazz. Since then she has spent the last three years studying with Marla Hansen at Boise State University. Sarah has also performed professionally in Latin Ballroom in the Boise area. In addition to Sarah's passion for dance, she enjoys snowboarding, soccer, family and now her first year married to Jerry Franco!

 

Jean Schroeder (apprentice)

Jean Schroeder has been dancing since the age of four, training in ballet, jazz, and modern. She began her training at the Ballet Idaho Academy of Dance in Boise where she danced for twelve years (1995-2007). She complimented her training at Ballet Idaho with instruction from Wendy de la Harpe and Jennifer Martin. Jean has also trained with other dance programs around the United States, such as Boston Ballet in Boston, Massachusetts (Summer 2007), Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida (Summer 2006), Interlochen Arts Academy in Traverse City, Michigan (Summer 2006, 2005), and Boise State University DanceFest (Summer 2001 & 2007).  Jean has also performed in a number of productions over the years with Ballet Idaho. She is currently a junior at Boise High School while concurrently enrolled in BSU's dance program. This is her first year as a member of Idaho Dance Theatre

Alia Kelley

Alia Kelley is an Idaho native who started her pre-professional training in Boise with Lisa Moon and Jeff and Cathy Giese at age 13. Alia has been a member of the Ballet Idaho Youth Company and Eagle Performing Arts Ensemble. She also trained in Seattle at Pacific Northwest Ballet School and on scholarship in the Professional Division at Houston Ballet Academy. Summer training includes Boise State University Summer DanceFest, Ballet Idaho Academy, Alonzo King LINES Ballet School, American Ballet Theatre, National Ballet School of Canada, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, Houston Ballet Academy, and Ballet Adriatico in Italy. Last summer she performed in Ballet Hawaii's production of Cinderella. This is Alia's first year with Idaho Dance Theatre and she is furthering her education as a full-time student at BSU. When not dancing or studying she enjoys music, keeping up with her friends on myspace and facebook and playing with her puppy, Taz.

Jeremiah Wierenga

Jeremiah Robert Wierenga is thrilled to return to Idaho after a six year absence. Born and raised in Boise, he began his life on the stage playing Michael Darling in Boise Music Week's 1992 production of Peter Pan. He continued to be active in the community theater scene, playing Winthrop Paroo in Boise Music Week's the Music Man (1995), and was a member of the Opera Idaho Children's Chorus, appearing in Madama Butterfly, H.M.S. Pinafore, Tosca, and Hansel and Gretel. An accomplished cellist, he was a member of the Meridian Symphony of Idaho between 1997 and 2000. After moving to Oregon in 2001, he stayed active in theater, performing with Lane Musical Arts, Lord Leebrick Theatre, and the Very Little Theatre of Eugene. He began dancing in the fall of 2002 and has studied on scholarship at the Eugene Ballet Academy, LINES Ballet School, and the Ballet Nouveau Colorado Summer Intensive. In Oregon, he performed with Dance Theatre of Oregon, Traduza Dance Company, and Rita Honka Dance. Jeremiah thanks his sister Sarah for her encouragement to begin this incredible journey of dance.