Soon-to-be University of Idaho graduate returns home to teach dance

Brooke Ciocca, an undergraduate student at the University of Idaho, has been dancing since she was in the womb.  

The soon-to-be graduate is nearly finished with her B.S. in dance after transferring to UI from the College of Southern Idaho, where she performed on the Golden Girls dance team. Ciocca got her passion for dance from her mom, Trina Ciocca, who opened Uptown Dance Studio while pregnant.  

“That’s where I started dancing,” Ciocca said. “At age nine, I started teaching with my mom.”  

After years of growing her passion for dance, Ciocca graduated from Wendell High School and decided she wanted to pursue higher education.

Ciocca said she remembers feeling pressure from people in her life to major in something like business instead of dance. That’s when her mom, who didn’t have the opportunity to study dance, encouraged Ciocca to follow her passion. When Trina Ciocca was her daughter’s age, there were no dance programs in Idaho, and she couldn’t afford to go out-of-state.  

“I never looked back,” Ciocca said. “I’m thankful because I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed school the same way if I was studying something I didn’t enjoy as much as dance.” 

While there are other Idaho colleges that offer a dance minor, as well as dance activity courses for all majors, the University of Idaho offers the only four-year Bachelor of Science dance degree in Idaho, according to UI’s Department of Movement Sciences website. Idaho State University in Pocatello recently stopped offering dance as a major, although the school still offers a dance minor.

“What drew me too is that you get to learn a lot about the human body and the anatomy and kinesiology side of things,” Ciocca said. “It’s really important in dance because your body is your tool and the more you know about it, the more you can take care of it.” 

Once Ciocca arrived in Moscow, she immediately felt welcomed by the other dancers in the program. She said the transition to remote learning has been hard on the group, who value community and support.  

“We’re very hug-y people,” Ciocca said. “No contact with anybody was really difficult.”

Fortunately, Ciocca was able to use her mom’s studio to practice when classes went online. It was still a bit different, though.  

“There’s something about the energy you get when you’re in class with other people,” Ciocca said. “It helps build you up and feel motivated.” 

Ciocca has worked at Festival Dance Academy in Moscow, a non-profit arts association, during her studies. Last year, she taught creative movement to 3- to 5-year-olds and pre ballet to 5- to 7-year-olds.

This year, Ciocca taught motion-theater performance troupes, something which proved to be tricky amid a pandemic. She worked with the dancers to choreograph and film the final performance for a presentation on Zoom. In the film, the dancers can be seen wearing masks.

Despite the difficulties of this year, Trina Ciocca said she was glad to see her daughter push on.  

“Even through all the trials and tribulations of this year, we’re happy Brooke was able to continue studying and earn her degree,” Trina Ciocca said. “Performances and graduation have a different look, but she was still able to grow with the help of her supportive professors.” 

Now, Ciocca is back in Wendell, Idaho, with her mom and plans to use her education to continue teaching at their studio. Eventually, Ciocca said she’d like to pursue a master’s in education to teach dance in public schools.  

“I feel excited to start a new journey in life,” Ciocca said. “I’ve loved undergrad, but it’s been four and a half years, so I’m excited to move on.” 

While there were some exhausting moments, Ciocca said she’s glad to have made it to the end.  

“I’m really thankful for all the professors I’ve had and how much they’ve challenged me,” Brooke Ciocca said. “I’m thankful for my family, for helping me get here.” 

Angela Palermo can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @apalermooo.