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Announcing the Choreographers for 2015 Rocky Mountain Choreography Festival

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I would like to announce the Choreographers participating in this years Festival.  Congratulations to them all.  Looking forward to seeing all their work live on stage at the Peery’s Egyptain Theatre, Feb 27, and 28, at 7:30 pm.  Peoples choice voting will take place on Feb 27th, show and Awards will take place on the Feb 28, 2015.

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Rodalfo Rafael's "Press Play" Peoples Choice Winner 2014
Rodalfo Rafael’s “Press Play” Peoples Choice Winner 2014

 

 

Carrie Le Miles Winner of the Rocky Mountain Choreography Festival 2014 "The Bench"
Carrie Le Miles Winner of the Rocky Mountain Choreography Festival 2014 “The Bench”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aysha Jonas, “Irrevocable Incandescent Kukoma”, Weber State Dance, Ogden, Utah

Madison Jones, “Path of Purpose”,  Weber State Dance Dept. Ogden, Utah

Summer Robertson,”Pleasurable Addiction”, St. George Dance Company, St. George, Utah

Rodolfo Rafael, “This and That”,  Dance Rod, Clearfield, Utah

 

Eric G. Bean Jr., “Def.i.(D)ance”, Jaricco Dance, Las Vegas, Nevada

Alicia Trump & Carrie Miles, “Not Alone”, Independent Artists, North Salt Lake, Utah & Las Vegas, Nevada

Aysha Jonas, “Journey to Tower Green”, Weber State Dance, Ogden, Utah

 

Loren Fletcher Nickerson,”Untitled” Independent Artist, Albuquerque,  New Mexico

Kassie Searle, “Meant for the Stage”, Independent Artist, Clinton, Utah

Whitnee Jenkins,”The Lonely”,  Lifehouse Performing Arts Academy, Spanish Fork, Utah

Junior Division

Danielle Dreis, “Simultaneously Unshaken”,  Ogden High Dance, Ogden, Utah

Sonya Kryzhanovsky, “Reflections”, Imagine Ballet Theatre, Ogden, Utah

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Nutcracker Perspectives!: Thoughts From A IBT Veteran Nutcracker Dancer : Part 3

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 YAGP 2014 SEATTLE SEMI-FINALS
Nutcracker Memories ’07 – ‘14
I have been with Imagine Ballet Theatre in the Nutcracker for the past 7 years. My name is Danielle Lee Dreis and every December I have been a part of The Nutcracker directed by Raymond Van Mason. This ballet is filled with magic, dreaming, dancing snowflakes, romance, and childhood memories.
In 2007, I had the honor of performing as a Party Girl, Toy Soldier, Page, and a Gingerette. The opening scene attending Clara’s Christmas party is a fun and exciting scene. The little girls wear bright colored dresses with big bows in their curly locks. I fondly remember the vibrant color of my blue dress that year. The boys wear cute little vests and bow ties around their necks. Dancing as a Party Girl is a huge role for character development. The children play with Clara, happily receive gifts, get excited for the toys, and tire when it’s time to go home. Throughout the entire scene I was able to develop my character by interacting with Clara and the other characters while reacting to the main focus of the scene. As a Gingerette, I jumped out from under the skirt of Mother Ginger performed by Burke Stone. This has always been one of my favorite roles. I loved dancing to the fun and joyful music. Entering under a giant tent like dress and surprising the audience with our colorful appearance was a great way to start the dance. Clapping and cartwheeling until the very end of the song. I always felt special to get the part of blowing the audience a Great BIG Kiss and running off stage. I love that Ray created Imagine Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker with various parts, levels, and characters. As you get older and increase in skill the roles and dancing get harder. I always looked up to the older dancers playing parts like Doll, Snow, Arabian, and Mirliton. 
In 2008, I danced Party Girl once again in the same blue dress. This year I was no longer one of the youngest Party Girls but was continuing to advance in roles. From Party Girl, I changed quickly into a Toy Solder costume. The Toy Soldiers had wooden guns as props and fought next to the Nutcracker. I always enjoyed fighting the Rats because my cousin Vince Hendricks was one of them. In Act 2, I danced as a Page and an Arabian Girl. The Pages enter at the beginning of Act 2 and act as the Sugar Plum Fairy’s servants. We had purple capes and purple feathers on our hats. I enjoyed the spritely dancing and framing of Clara’s entrance into the Land of the Sweets. Backstage I will always remember the quick change from Page to Arabian.  Arabian was always fun for me because I related it to Princess Jasmine from Aladdin. We wore two piece blue silk and chiffon customs with gold coins around the bodice. We also got the opportunity to dance with a silk scarf. I worked extremely hard to get my right splits all year because I knew this dance required the ability to slide into the splits without hands. I love watching and dancing with the Arabian Queen and her Prince dreaming one day I would get the opportunity to dance that part.
In 2009, we performed Nutcracker and I was once again a Party Girl. I received many of the same parts as the year before. I continued to improve as a Toy Soldier, Page, and Arabian. As a Page this year, I felt special because I pushed the sleigh out for Clara. In Arabian I danced every year prior with my favorite Arabian Queen Jessica Barraza. Each year the Nutcracker brings the Christmas spirit and one of the things IBT does as a company is perform to the schools. As a young dancer I really enjoyed performing to children my own age. I knew not very many kids had the opportunity I had to miss school and perform with a wonderful family of
dancers. Another thing IBT does each year is they enter a float in the Ogden City Christmas parade to prepare the community for a rendition of The Nutcracker.
            In 2010, this was the last year I would perform with my sister Marquelle Dreis. I danced both the Snowflake and Waltz of the Flowers with her. She also danced as the Maid, a Mother at the Party, and Spanish. She is and will always remain to be my favorite Spanish dancer of all time. I have always looked up to her and am thankful to have received the opportunity to dance with her for so many years. She is the reason I joined Imagine Ballet Theatre. My other roles included Party Girl and one of the Chinese characters.
            In 2011, I was given the opportunity to perform as the Toy Drummer and did not share this role with anyone. I enjoyed dancing every show. I was a tall Snowflake and flower in Waltz of the Flowers. I shared the role of Mirliton and the main Chinese Queen. I switched characters every other night. I felt very special to have been the first Main Chinese pointe girl where in the previous years it had been a male. Being the first to receive this role the choreography was choreographed on me and Tessa Parkinson.
The next year, 2012, I loved dancing as a Snowflake alongside my best friend, Rachel Duffin, who was Snow Queen at the time. I danced in Waltz of the Flowers and Mirliton and shared the roles of Toy Drummer and Chinese Queen.
The year 2013 was one of my favorite years because I received the honorary role of the Snow Queen. I loved dancing this character because I have always enjoyed dancing in the snow scene as well as getting to wear the beautiful tutu and ice crystal crown. As Snow Queen, in every show, I pushed out the sleigh at the end of the act and danced with the Nutcracker Prince and my favorite Clara, MaKayla Woods. This will always be one of my favorite roles in closing Act I. I was also a flower in Waltz of the Flowers. I not only got the main role of Snow Queen but also played the main role of Main Chinese Queen for every show. This year the main roles were performed by some of my best friends, Catherine Aoki as Clara, Ashleigh Richardson as Sugar Plum Fairy, and I as Snow Queen.
This year 2014 will be the seventh year I am dancing in The Nutcracker with Imagine Ballet Theatre. I’m excited to dance with all the younger dancers in the roles I once had including the pages, angels, and divertissements.  I am so excited to be highlighted in the star role of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Sugar Plum was performed in previous years by many great dancers I have always looked up to. My favorite who has danced this role is Christie Freebairn. Looking back when I first began dancing two of the older company dancers I admired were Jennifer Jackson and Macall Bowden who both danced Clara and Sugar Plum at one time. I have always hoped to dance in their shoes, and now the role of Sugar Plum Fairy is mine.
By Danielle Lee Dreis
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Nutcracker Perspectives!: Thoughts From A First-Time Nutcracker Dancer : Part 2

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Hi! I’m Emily. I am nine years old and I am an angel in Imagine Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker this year. This is my first time dancing in Nutcracker, and I’m really excited, especially because I’ll get to be on stage with the Sugar Plum Fairy!

Our first Nutcracker rehearsal lasted an hour and a half…it felt like a really long time! About halfway through the first rehearsal, Mr. Ray laughed and said we looked like bumper cars because we kept bumping into each other as we moved in and out of each other’s lines. Oops! But then we took a quick break and it was just what we needed. I got a drink of water and a hug from my mom, and I felt ready to dance some more. I guess that little break was good for everyone, because we learned our entire routine by the end of the first rehearsal!

We were much better at the next rehearsal, and we are getting better each week. Even though we are working hard to learn our dance, we are having lots of fun, too! I can’t wait to wear my pretty angel costume. Nutcracker will be here before you know it!

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Smith’s Community Rewards supports Imagine Ballet Theatre!

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Smiths_CommRwds_600x160Please link your already existing Smith’s rewards card to #93138 and just by doing your normal shopping you will be making a donation to Imagine Ballet Theatre and help young dancers realize their full potential as performing artists here in Utah.slider-img8

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Nutcracker Perspectives! Thoughts from first-time dancers and seasoned professionals. Part 1

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 Week four was a difficult weekend, I had two young dancers have to pull out of the Nutcracker due to some problems at school so they could concentrate on their studies.  I have always maintained that a dancers education is very important and must be a high priority,  however this has left me a bit short in a couple of numbers so I have to rework or find some replacements for these parts.  Never is an easy task getting this large show onstage.  We will make it because the show must go on! Right! Right!discovering tree

Nutcracker

                My favorite memory of performing the Nutcracker ballet with IBT is the very first year Ray choreographed it. Can you imagine being the first one to dance a part? To be the first one in a brand new costume designed to fit you? Of course, every corps member had one just like mine. But it wasn’t the same one. And all of us together, we were dancing brand new choreography in our brand new costumes. It was magnificent. Never had I felt so beautiful in my life. My part is special. I performed Clara’s friend as a Party Girl, a Snowflake, a Flower, and Spanish. And I am very protective of those parts. I strive to help the people in them because I want them to look good, doing my part. I, myself, work very hard at the new parts I’m given, because those parts had an original person to them too. They even had multiple people before me. My mother role that I have now was even played by a dancer who danced with Ray at Ballet West. Nobody can tell me that isn’t intimidating.

The best part about dancing with IBT is I’m lucky enough to not get 1 part, but more than one. And some schools, you get one, and you even share that part with another person. But I will never complain if it gets cut down because we have more people. Why shouldn’t other people get the opportunity to dance with us? Can you imagine watching a little girl take your spot that you had originally, and dancing it the best she can? I remember the joy I had when I performed Spanish and I love seeing other people get the opportunity to do it.  Written by Tessa Parkinson

Third week of Nutcracker rehearsals, took back seat to a show by the Choreographer Carrie Lee Miles “Gatherings” which took place Saturday night at the Peery’s Egyptian Theater.  However, we did do a bit with our Angels and I might say they are retaining and remembering rather well.  I worked with Tessa Parkinson on her new role as Snow Queen.  I have had Tessa as part of the company since 2003 which was the first year we IBT.  She is a very conscientious dancer and thinks about everything, it is finally her turn to shine in this new role. Tessa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Imagine Ballet Theatre is now into it’s second week of Nutcracker ballet rehearsal and already the magic has begun.  I would guess I might be considered the seasoned professional around here, as this will be the 42nd year I have been involved with Nutcracker. First I danced as a child with Ballet West and then I danced with the company for 17 years, moving from the corps to Principal dancer, and later as a guest artist for Clytie Adams School of Ballet (Utah), Ballet Etudes (Phoenix), West Virginia Ballet, Ballet Pacifica (California), Dance West Ballet (Chicago), Grandiva Ballet (Japan), Tyler Texas Ballet. Eight years ago I created my own Nutcracker ballet for IBT in Ogden, Utah.

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It’s hard to believe we are two weeks into Nutcracker rehearsals! This past Saturday we had our second angel rehearsal. These are some of our youngest and newest dancers. In this number, at the opening of Act II, the dancers hold candles. During rehearsal we have the dancers practice by holding a water bottle to get used to the weight. A couple of dancers were holding magic wands. Suddenly, one of the youngest dancers — I believe she is 4 — tapped me with her wand and informed me that I was now a frog. So I obliged her and got down on all fours and started jumping.  I asked for a kiss on the cheek so I could become a prince and she said no. Finally, after a lot of laughter she tapped me and made me a prince.  Back to rehearsal we went.

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Imagine Ballet Theatre to Hold “The Nutcracker” Auditions Sept 6, 2014

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discovering tree

 

Ogden, Utah, August 15, 2014: Imagine Ballet Theatre (IBT), an Ogden-based ballet company, will hold auditions on September 6 , 2014 for the upcoming production of “The Nutcracker” ballet. Auditions will be held at their studios on 2432 Washington Blvd., Suites C & D, in Ogden from 10:00 am to 11:30 am Boys and girls ages 6-11 and 11:45-1:15 Boys and girls ages 12 and up are welcome to audition. Cost is $25.

 

Imagine Ballet Theatre’s 2014 production of “The Nutcracker,” with original choreography by Raymond Van Mason, will be performed in December at The Peery’s Egyptian Theater in Ogden. Opportunities within the ballet for those selected include Party Boys and Girls, Rats, Soldiers, Gingerettes, Angels, and more. Dancers en pointe may audition for roles such as Snow, Waltz of the Flowers, and divertissements.

 

The company is widely recognized in the region as providing quality and professional-level performances. IBT received a Utah Best of State Award in 2005, and Mason received a 2006 Utah Best of State Award for Best Choreographer as well as the Ogden Mayor‘s Award for the Arts. In November 2006, company members were invited to perform at the McCallum Theater in Palm Desert, CA at the Dance Under The Stars Choreography Festival where they were awarded the Judy G. Mayer Small Group Award.

 

When:                          Saturday, September 6 , 2014

Registration 9:30-10:00 pm Ages 6-11; audition 10:00-11:30am

Registration 11:30-12:00pm Ages 12 and up; audition 11:45-1:15pm

Where:                        Imagine Ballet Theatre, 2432 Washington Blvd, Suites C & D, Ogden

Dress:                          Young Women: Black leotard, pink tights, ballet shoes, if dancer is en pointe bring pointe shoes, hair in a bun

Men:  White shirt, black tights, ballet shoes

Registration Fee:         $25.00, non-refundable

Other:                          Dancers must bring a photo

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Ogden Art Stroll watch dancers perform solos for the American Ballet Competition in Boston.

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YAGP 2014 SEATTLE SEMI-FINALS Dancers will be performing solos from Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadere, Don Q., Flower Festival, as well as contemporary works created for this competition that will take place in Boston.  Please join us for a bit of dance along your stroll. Featured dancers are Danielle Dries, Catherine Aoki, Katerina Winkler, MaKayla Finlinson, Aleksandra Winkler and Sonya Krzhanovsky.

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Christina Stockdale joins the faculty at Imagine Ballet Theatre.

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Christina began her training at the age of five in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At 11 she was accepted to train at the Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet where she was able to perform at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia with the Pennsylvania Ballet. In high school Ms. Stockdale also trained at the Academy of International Ballet and performed with International Ballet Classique.

After graduation high school in 2005, Christina Stockdale accepted a position at Manassas Ballet Theatre in Manassas Virginia. While she was there she performed as a soloist in many ballets including Mina in Dracula, The Butterfly in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Snow Queen and Flower Soloist in The Nutcracker and many others.

After two seasons with MBT, Ms. Stockdale decided to move cross country and dance for a ballet company in Washington state: Ballet Bellevue. Ms. Stockdale spent four years with the company as a principal dancer and teaching in the school. She also directed and choreographed several Ballet Bellevue School productions. Her featured roles while in the company were: Aurora and Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, Jack Frost in the Ballet Bellevue premiere of The Snowman, Sugar Plum and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker and many others including contemporary choreography by Stacy Lowenberg, Kabby Mitchell III, Jennifer Porter, Keith Derrick Randolph and Angela Sterling.

In 2011, Ms. Stockdale auditioned and was accepted as a company member in Nevada Ballet Theatre. While she was with the company she worked with world famous ballerina Cynthia Gregory and Tara Keating on Georege Balanchine’s Serenade. She also performed with Cirque du Soleil in an NBT Cirque du Soleil collaboration.

At the end of the season in 2012, Ms. Stockdale left Nevada Ballet Theatre and decided to pursue other areas of dance in the fabulous Las Vegas and auditioned and got a job dancing ten shows per week in the now longest running show on the strip: Tournament of Kings at Excalibur.

This year Ms. Stockdale followed her husband to Ogden UT when he was transferred to the military base here. She continues to work at the show as a swing whenever she is in Las Vegas and also guest performs with several ballet companies including Las Vegas Ballet Company, and Kelly Roth Dancers. 

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Love Utah Give Utah: Support IBT Thursday!

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We have the great opportunity this week to be a part of the Love Utah Give Utah campaign! What’s it all about? This Thursday, March 20th, 2014, you can make an impact by joining with other Utahns for 24 hours of unprecedented giving. It’s one day devoted completely to supporting the organizations, like Imagine Ballet Theatre, that make Utah special! IBT can also win great grants and prizes!

How do you help? First, visit the Love Utah Give Utah website and find Imagine Ballet Theatre:

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Once you’re on our page, you can choose to donate any amount over $10.

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Thanks to an incredibly generous donor, this year we will receive a matching grant of $1,000 if we reach or exceed $1,000 by the end of the Love Utah Give Utah event! We would be grateful beyond words to our supporters for this funding if we reach our goal. We hope you’ll donate to Imagine Ballet Theatre this year on our state’s day of giving. Know that each dollar received here at IBT goes directly to improving our program and putting quality, beautiful, and inspiring art on the stage in Ogden.

We appreciate your continued patronage and contribution to our organization, and hope to see you as we present “An Evening of Folktales: Peter and the Wolf and Urashima Taro” on April 11th & 12th!

Thank you,
IBT Artistic Staff