A Special One-Performance Collaboration

*Grant Recipient*
Idaho Dance Theatre presents selections from their recent show Moving Forward with choreography by Kylie Dimick, Marla Hansen, Evan Stevens and Antonio Carnell. In addition, Contemporary Dance Ensemble (CDE) from Utah Valley University will present an array of fascinating pieces by Angela Banchero-Kelleher, Sarah Donohur, Michio Ito, and Carl Flink. 

Particularly notable will be Michio Ito’s (1893-1961) “Tone Poem I and II”. Ito, born in Japan, came to the United States in 1916. He created unique arm gestures as part of his life-long aspiration to connect the East and the West through his choreography and peace-keeping efforts. Ito is often considered a forgotten Modern Dance pioneer because his prolific career in the US ended abruptly with WWII. Within 24 hours of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Michio Ito was unjustly arrested, accused of espionage, and incarcerated. Ito was repatriated to Japan as part of a prisoner exchange in 1943 where he lived and worked until his death.