Category Archives: Blog
Nutcracker Auditions for 2015
Nutcracker Auditions will take place Sept 12, 2015. Imagine Ballet Theatre performs in the beautiful Peery’s Egyptian Theater with the New American Philharmonic Orchestra. Performance dates are Dec 11,12,17,18 and 19th.
Ages 6 to 11 will register 9:30 to 10:00
Audition will take place from 10:00 to 11:30
Ages 12 and up will register 11:30-12:00
Audition will take place from 12:00-1:30 ( Ladies please bring pointe shoes)
Looking for: Soldiers, Party Boys and Rats, Parent roles, Gingerettes, Russians, Ladies in Waiting, Pages, Arabian, Spanish, Waltz and Snow Corp and Angels.
The cost for the audition is $25.00.
Please come ready to dance with a dance photo.
Spencer Nielsen IBT Studios featured Artist
Stop by and enjoy the scenic beauty of Spencer Nielsen’s Photography. Spencer is a Singer, Songwriter, and Photographer. Imagine Ballet Theatre will also be working on a ballet called Mellow Rotten Mind which will have it’s opening August 21 and 22 7:30 pm and 10:00 pm each night.
Spencer Nielsen is a singer/songwriter from Salt Lake City, Utah. A Self taught musician, plays the keyboards and sings, choosing to look deep into personal struggles and triumphs, for lyrical inspiration. Spencer has a range of musical influences; such as Dave Matthews Band, U2, The Who, Jack Johnson, Billy Joel, and Citizen Cope. The result is a wide variety of feeling and emotion combined with a groove that puts this soul music in the hears of music listeners of all genres and ages.
Beginning singing and writing songs in 2003, Spencer began playing solo at Salt Lakes piano bar The Cabana Club. Performing weekly with various other local musicians for many years before releasing his first full length album (Simple Vibe) on June 8 , 2006. now only available on ITunes, this album was a fan favorite and the start of a long road. Continuing writing and growing as a musician, Spencer released two other albums, (Taking Control) in August of 2008 and a two-song single release (So Strong) in Feb 2010 .
Than in 2011, because of personal issues, Spencer stopped writing music , stopped performing, and eventually a year later stopped playing music at all. Feeling overcome with self doubt Spencer gave up on music and in many ways gave up on life.
In 2013 , friend and bandmate Vito Perry ( who had joined Spencer to play bass back in 2007) started jamming again with Spencer and Vito moved back to his natural instrument , The Guitar. Vito, an experienced band front man and songwriter , and Spencer began co-writing songs…and it just started happening. Song after song, after song, next thing you know everything had changed for Spencer emotional and as things picked back up , Vitos father Anthony Perry, veteran drummer, joined the group on percussion and officially The Spencer Nielsen Band was formed ,late summer of 2014. They started working on the album :MellowrottenMusic” . Soon after With the help of a crowdfunding effort thru Indiegogo, SNB was able to presale enough cds and sponsorships to record a full length album in SLC, Utah and mix and master the final product in Oakland , California with producer Matthew Winegar. (MellowRottenMusic) was independent released April 25, 2015 as the Spencer Nielsen Band debut album . It is now available on ITunes for digital download. Also see and hear the song “Better” from the new album on youtube @ https://m.youtube.com/
Recently SNB has been joined by veteran bass player Thomas Krug from SLC, Ut bringing a full stage sound to the bands live performance. Follow The Spencer Nielsen Band on facebook for updates and show dates.
Interviews of Guest teachers for IBT’s Summer Intensive 2015
By Chaundra Wilson,
Gina Artese, of Kansas City, Missouri, is the guest instructor for week two of Imagine Ballet Theatre’s summer intensive. As a Balanchine-trained dancer, she describes her teaching style with one word—energy.
I am very different from the Danish style, which was the focus of the Bournonville Workshop with the Masters, which took place in Ogden the last week in June. “I am kind of old school style,” Artese smiles, “Black leotards, pink tights. Balanchine is very different. “
Artese, who began her professional dancing career at around 16 years old, set pieces from Balanchine’s repertoire last year for IBT’s summer intensive. This year, she brought her “energy” to the IBT studio with a rendition of Stars and Stripes. “This version is more theatrical and the counts are very important.”
Artese’s week of intense instruction comes on the heels of Oswaldo Muniz, who opened IBT’s month-long intensive. Artese was began guest teaching at IBT last summer when Muniz recommended her as a candidate to Artistic Director Raymond Van Mason.
Artese says her favorite part of her time at IBT is the specialized attention with each child. She enjoys the group “pointe shoe talks,” where she discusses the woes, triumphs, tips, and tricks of ballet’s most iconic equipment. “I enjoy getting to know each child and having a moment with them. I like helping them fix something when they were struggling.”
As well as being a member of many dance companies, Artese has been seen on the movie screen as a company member in the Academy Award-Winning production, Black Swan. “I didn’t know what was going on,” she recalls of filming the suspense-thriller. “My family saw it before I did. “ Artese remembers meeting and talking with some of the ballerinas whose stories peppered the plot of the movie. Artese speculates that the draw of the movie, which surprises viewers with a troubling and dark conclusion. “I think it is about the rebellion, because ballet is all about perfection.”
Anazella will be at IBT Studios for Ogden’s First Friday art stroll.
Anazella Morrison,
I have been drawing, and painting since I was 5. My biggest inspiration growing up was Bob Ross. We had a black and white TV with two antennas, and I would situate them in order to watch his shows. I mostly used pencil, until my aunt opened a new world to me with oils, I have now been painting by oil for four years.
My dream is to paint in a way that the viewer feels taken into my work and becomes a part of it. Taking them into a state of mind that offers peace, and serenity.
Shop at Smile Amazon and help IBT!
Shop at Smile Amazon and help raise .05% DONATION to Imagine Ballet Theatre.
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/20-3410912
IBT in Broadway World!
http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwdance/article/Imagine-Ballet-Theatre-to-Present-THE-SECRET-GARDEN-417-18-20150401
10th Anniversary of The Secret Garden
Imagine Ballet Theatre in Broadway World under Dance News. Here is the article.
The Winners of the RMCF 2015!
This is the results from the panel of Judges.
The Grand prize Winner: This & That by Rodolfo Rafael
Second Place: Not Alone by Alicia Trump & Carrie Lee Miles
Third Place: Except from “Antologia” by Loren Fletcher
Junior Division: Reflections by Sonya Kryzhanovsky
People’s Choice awards from the audience voting.
First Place: Meant for the Stage by Kassie Searle
Second Place: Def.i.(d)ance by Eric Bean Jr.
Third Place: This & That by Rodolfo Rafael
Junior Division: Simultaneously Unshaken by Danielle Dreis and Seth Gonzales
Announcing the Choreographers for 2015 Rocky Mountain Choreography Festival
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.
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