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Finally! After a year in the making, the Idaho Falls Youth Arts Centre has a working space to call home. “The Centre,” as the board members endearingly refer to it, is located in the old Real Deals building on Chamberlain. It is so fantastic to finally have a place for classes, rehearsals, workshops, set building, costume creation and even small performances.
With the challenges of COVID-19, the organization’s annual summer theater camp needed a performance space for each of its productions of Disney’s Moana.
The camp workshops and classes were already planned to take place at The Centre, but the search was on for a performance venue. After looking all over town at all possible options—both conventional and creative, the committee settled on The Centre as the best option.
With the amazing design talents of our resident set master and his capable assistants, the three of them built a stage in the main rehearsal space. Though not ideal for the number of campers, The Youth Centre Theater was successful. Smaller audiences, yes, but the same excitement and caliber of delivery were spot-on.
Theater and the arts are about creative problem-solving. They require collaboration, patience, imagination and ingenuity. Past summer theater camp experiences have included a nice auditorium and full stage. With such luxuries, campers never had a full understanding of creating “real” theater.
This year, the campers had the unique privilege of building a show from the ground up—with all of its bumps and bruises along the way—with the added obstacles of trying to be “COVID Compliant.” So many theater groups start in warehouses and basements with next to nothing and become hot spots for talent because of grassroots beginnings. The Centre will soon be in the ranks with the greats, even though it started in the midst of really hard and uncertain times.
Summer theater camp is not the only new resident in The Centre. IFYAC is expanding its programs. In addition to its amazing choir and strings classes, IFYAC is excited to welcome dance to their fall schedule. Now, more than ever, the arts are important to our youth. So much is being thrown at them -- challenges of COVID, the state’s plan to cut $99 million from the schools’ funding and dealing with the uncertainty life has thrown at us all. Finding an outlet for expression and even stress is important. What better way to do that than in a positive environment through the Performing Arts? The Centre now has more options for the youth in this area—all under one roof.
Our choir program is directed by the ever talented and skilled Mary Bunn. She loves working with kids and getting them excited about singing. The classes will focus on music theory, storytelling through music, vocal technique, and stage presence—all while having a fun time and making new friends.
D’Lynne Esplin is our fearless Strings instructor. She is no stranger to the IFYAC family and is often seen in the orchestra pit during fall musical productions playing violin. The strings class focuses on proper posture, music theory, and developing basic skills preparing them for a positive journey in the world of music.
Making her IFYAC debut is Autumn Pruett as our dance instructor. She is incredibly excited to share her skill, knowledge, and passion for dance with the youth in this area. Classes are designed for the beginner/intermediate level in modern dance and contemporary. The focus in these classes is creative expression while becoming comfortable moving in rhythm and space.
With the success of The Centre’s first productions of Summer Theater Camp’s Moana; rehearsals for the Fall Musical of Elf (set to perform next month); and the excitement for the classes starting this month, The Centre is destined to be a place of creativity, imagination, expression, love and talent. This is only the beginning, people! The momentum has begun, and you can’t stop the beat!
For more information on IFYAC, or to register for any of the programs, please visit the website: www.ifyac.org
Click here to read more of the November issue.