Festival Dance and Performing Arts Academy has been offering opportunities to express creativity since 1972. The academy, spread across the Palouse, has re-opened its location in Troy, Idaho to expand its in-person classes.
Opening Jan. 20 to the general public, classes are available to children four to nine years old stated in the press release. Located in the guest location of the Lions Club, students can take creative movement with an introduction to ballet and ballet levels one and two. Though the debut of this satellite location was placed on hold during the academy’s first semester, they are pleased to open their doors to young dancers.
Sophia Raasch, current faculty, and teacher at the academy, will hold instruction for said classes. Raasch attends the University of Idaho and is working on her bachelor’s degree in science in food and nutrition, pre-physical therapy and a minor in dance. She grew up in Troy and is a past student of the academy. Dancing at the academy since she was 12, she has been a part it for six years.
“I started dancing when I was six years old, and I didn’t really start taking it seriously until I was about 12. There’s just something about it that for me, it’s an art form and a (sport) that I just really enjoy,” Raasch said. “I think my favorite part about it was the self-competition. I learned how to work with my body and I had tried like other sports…(but) I just love the structure behind dance.”
Raasch works with children and her favorite part is introducing them to the passion she has for dance. Learning dance is education for their bodies and coordination skills, and getting acquainted and comfortable in their own skin, Raasch said. It teaches kids how to count music, different points connections and memorization. Skills they learn here can be applied everywhere outside of the dance studio or in public school, Raasch said.
A part of the reason why the academy re-opened its satellite location in Troy was to introduce a younger generation to dance.
“The goal of it is to reach the surrounding communities (outside of) Moscow to get more kids involved in dance,” Raasch said. “Especially up here in northern Idaho, it’s hard to find dance studios in the area.”
She hopes that opportunities the outreach program has reaches people as a way to share the art of dance.
Although the Troy location is only available to children, the academy’s locations at UI and in Moscow allow college students to explore dance. They offer adult classes and have adults come in regularly, as the academy is open to all ages and experience levels.
To learn more about opportunities at Festival Dance and Performing Arts Academy, visit their website.
Emily Pearce can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @Emily_A_Pearce.