Idaho Dance Theatre Receives $10K NEA Grant Funding to Support a North Idaho Rural Tour

Boise, ID, March 24, 2008 --(PR.com)-- The Idaho Dance Theatre (IDT), Idaho’s premiere professional contemporary dance company has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The grant, awarded in the category "Access to Artistic Excellence," will support a tour to Northern Idaho for the company to perform in May 2008. Since much of Idaho is considered underserved and rural, this tour is an opportunity to introduce contemporary dance to parts of the state that might never otherwise be able to see a professional dance performance.

“I am really delighted and gratified," said Managing Director Becky Breshears. "We've worked hard to maintain the quality and originality of our performances over the last 19 years, and this grant is an acknowledgement of our efforts and our potential. It’s an excellent way to share our art and educate others in contemporary dance too!"

Directed by Marla Hansen and Carl Rowe, IDT commissions and produces new work for every show that they perform – a feat almost unheard of in most performing arts in this day and age. The company currently is composed of 6 professional dancers, all of whom are from Idaho, with several guest dancers and apprentices. Three concerts each year are presented in the Boise area. IDT is proud to be the company in residence at Boise State University which affords the company rehearsal and performing space (but no funding).

Established in 1989 by Fred and Marla Hansen, the Company has long had a purpose to introduce everyone in the state of Idaho to the art of contemporary dance. Contemporary dance is a fusion of ballet technique, modern, jazz and whatever the choreographer is inspired to create. Each dance serves to communicate some idea from the choreographer who makes the dance – sometimes just the idea of enjoying movement to the music and sometimes communicating an idea about life. IDT is known for their many collaborations with other local artists and for their varied and interesting choices of music.

Idaho Dance Theatre was honored to receive an NEA grant in 2005 to tour SE Idaho. Having a successful tour allowed them to be so honored again with a second grant to tour North Idaho. The company will depart Boise on May 9 and perform in communities like McCall, Grangeville, Moscow, Potlatch, Post Falls and several others still in negotiation. The tour will consist of Main-stage concerts as well as Repertory shows for high schools and their “Magic of Dance” school show for elementary schools.

Idaho Dance Theatre believes that everyone should experience the joy and excitement of contemporary dance. These grants underscore the NEA's role in bringing the highest quality art to the most people possible. The NEA strives to insure opportunities for rural communities to also share in America’s art. These grants represent a valuable investment in American art that will serve the American people.

The NEA's Access to Artistic Excellence grants support the creation and presentation of work in the disciplines of dance, design, folk and traditional arts, literature, media arts, museums, music, musical theater, opera, presenting, theater, and visual arts. In its first major grant announcement of fiscal year 2008, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced that it will award $20.2 million to fund 908 grants. The Arts Endowment will distribute $19,189,000 in this round of FY 2008 funding to nonprofit national, regional, state, and local organizations across the country through the NEA's Access to Artistic Excellence category. For more information see http://www.arts.gov/news/news07/Announce12-07.html

Idaho Dance Theatre is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Donations to support The North Idaho Tour can be made by calling (208)331-9592. Visit their website at www.idahodancetheatre.org for the latest information.

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