Festival Dance Academy

As part of Festival Dance's commitment to providing outstanding artistic experiences for our area youth, Collision of Rhythm presented a free educational program for area students. A duo of two unique artists performed at the Gladish Community and Cultural Center. The Team performed, danced, and play ​ ed 19 different instruments while giving the audience a sense of hope and joy mixed with inspiration and humor. Aaron Williams and Bronker Lee fill the stage as a 12 person ensemble would, amazing students, providing humor, and inspiring all 130 in-person/200 virtual participants with their message of hope!

BalFan brought storybook ballet to the Palouse with engaging Youthreach opportunities. First to the Hartung Theatre for students bused from throughout the Palouse, and then directly to the Nez Perce at Lapwai Elementary. Students learned basic Ballet moves and vocabulary and then enjoyed engaging excerpts from the Beauty & the Beast storyline.

Ballet Fantastique returned for the second time in 2022 bringing their holiday spectacular “Babes in Toyland”. There was one outreach program held in the International Ballroom on the University of Idaho campus. This program focused on the history of ballet, the storyline of their show “Babes in Toyland”, and ballet vocabulary. Students learned simple ballet movements and a few lucky students got invited to demonstrate these movements on stage!

You and your teammates will encourage the best in each other as you become part of the choreographic process and practice artistic collaboration. MOFE is about teamwork, commitment, connection and community service. You'll dance, grow, and lead, becoming a role model for other students in the Academy.

Our first in-person performance in nearly 20 months was with the amazing duo, Collision of Rhythm. Comprised of tap-dancing classical virtuoso, Aaron Williams, and beatbox-juggling keynote speaker, Bronkar Lee, they filled the stage as a 12-person ensemble would, moving from instrument to instrument with a high level of skill and diversity. What was created is a richly explosive experience like nothing else out there — rhythm-centered, but also full of melodic movement and dynamic depth. With drumming, tap dancing, rhythmic juggling, marimba, piano, saxophone, flute and so much more . Our audience loved the energy and inspiration of this talented team!

Ballet Fantastique travelled for the first time to the Palouse with a full stage production, impeccable costuming, and a performance to entice new audience members as well as seasoned dance lovers. Mother & daughter, artistic team, Donna and Hannah Bontrager chose to portray the “tale as old as time” through its Russian folk roots. Based on Sergey Aksakov’s 1858 version, “The Scarlet Flower”, the ballet challenges traditional representations of women in fairy tales as saved by fairies and magic. In this story, a brave young woman must journey a long way and endure terrible danger. In the end, it is the heroine’s own bravery, moral judgment, and fortitude that saves both Beauty and the Beast.

Tango Del Cielo delighted the crowd with their presentation of authentic Argentine Tango accompanied by music from Spain and Latin America.

Ballet Fantastique from Eugene, OR presented two fantastic performances of Babes in Toyland, set to the jazzy notes of Duke Ellington's The Nutcracker Suite to the delight of all at the Jones Theatre at WSU.

Cleo Parker Robinson and her ensemble of 11 dancers brought an amazing performance to the Hartung Theatre a t the University of Idaho, Moscow, ID. CPRDE performed seven exceptional works to an intimate and engaged audience of 162. The program featured contemporary movement with heavy influences from world dances- especially during the finale dance, “The Four Journeys” which tells a story of the four cultural roots of Mexico.

Tablao Flamenco - a powerful performance highlighting the improvisational communication between dancers and musicians in the ever changing art of Flamenco. Each Tablao show is a unique and never to be repeated experience.

Collision of Rhythm brought rhythm and fun to The Hartung. The family-friendly show featured the tap dancing and musical talent of Aaron Williams alongside the beatbox-juggler Bronkar Lee in a performance featuring 17 instruments - from drums, to piano, marimba, and saxophone.

"Constant State of Otherness" an engaging, multi-layered performance work rooted in questions of identity and self worth – how we identify ourselves and how we label others. Through taiko, Japanese folk dance, song, and personal story, six performers guided the audience through a four-part journey inspired by experiences of isolation and displacement that come from not having an easy sense of home.

Portland-based dance company push/FOLD takes the stage on Sept. 27, featuring original dances by multi-disciplinary artist, composer, choreographer and filmmaker Samuel Hobbs.

Festival Dance strives to provide excellent dance education to those interested in learning the discipline of dance. We have small class sizes, professional teachers, and place emphasis on technique and safety. Our dance students are some of the most confident, happiest, well-trained dancers you will find.

Festival Dance and Performing Arts Association invite you to join us as we continue our efforts to “bring the arts to the people and people to the arts” of our community. Our Mission includes maintaining a dance academy dedicated to exceptional quality and bringing professional performing artists to our area. This is a complex and challenging task and we need your assistance to ensure that we not only provide outstanding performances and Youthreach programs but that we support our local youth as they grow in the art of dance.

Offers free educational dance programs for local schools by professional artists.

Brings free dance education opportunities into local elementary schools.

Providing professional dance instruction in residence at the University of Idaho, Troy, Genesee, and a second location in Moscow. We are the premier provider of dance education in the region.

The Festival Dance Academy is pleased to present the 2025 Holiday Matinee, featuring dances inspired by Clement Clark Moore's A Visit from Saint Nicholas, commonly known as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Join us as we celebrate the Holiday Season and the growth in the Academy students.

Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble (CPRDE) brought an educational experience rich in the arts to three separate outreach programs. The first program at the Hartung Theatre on the University of Idaho campus had a sold-out audience of elementary students and educators from across the Palouse. Later that day, CPRDE traveled to Lapwai Elementary on the New Perce reservation where the entire school K-5 had the opportunity to witness these professional dancers. A few students from the school dressed in their native regalia and demonstrated a ‘Jingle’ dance for CPRDE- it was a wonderful exchange of culture and dance! The final outreach program was a McDonald Elementary in Moscow, ID. Students were split into groups and worked closely with the professional dancers learning short choreography phrases and movement. All three outreach programs were focused around modern dance concepts as well as the cultural and historical roots in this dance genre. The level of professionalism and dedication to the arts CPRDE brought to the Palouse community was highlighted over the course of their residency.