Weaknesses slightly mar Ballet’s effort
Dana Oland for The Idaho Statesman

Ballet Idaho opened its 30th anniversary season with Toni Pimble´s “Romeo and Juliet” Saturday at the nearly sold-out Velma V. Morrison Center.
This is the second time the ballet has staged this production in Boise. The first was in 1997. The difference between the two productions reflects a marked difference in the company.

In 1997, it was a triumph, dynamic and exciting, due mainly to a strong, seasoned group of dancers — especially the men who attacked the sword-fighting scenes until sparks literally flew from their weapons.

Today´s company is made up of clearly talented but mostly younger dancers who sometimes had difficulty maintaining the emotional pitch needed for the ballet.

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Swashbuckling ballet entertains
By Dana Oland for The Idaho Statesman

“The Three Musketeers,” the epic, somewhat-sprawling novel by Alexander Dumas, is quickly becoming part of the lexicon of classical companies — both in theater and dance.

Ballet Idaho?s artistic director Toni Pimble added her interpretation as her ballet opened Saturday for two performances at the Velma V. Morrison Center.

Though this may not be the pinnacle of artistic achievement for Pimble and her crew, it was exceedingly entertaining, comical and well executed.

Pimble made the story?s transition from page to stage more smoothly than many theater companies? theatrical adaptations. That was because she focused only on the first half of the book, then from there significantly pared down the plot.

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from the Online Arbiter:

Ballet Idaho to perform three pieces in one night

Tammy Sands, The Arbiter
April 10, 2003

<a href="http://www.arbiteronline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/04/10/3e94adcc2f0fb">click here for more</a>

The manly art of ballet
By Dana Oland for The Idaho Statesman

Let’s face it. Ballet is mostly all about the women — tutus, pointe shoes, dancing fairies, tragic princesses. The title characters for most classical ballets are women: “La Bayadere,” “Cinderella,” “Coppelia,” “Giselle.” And though these women each have their prince, there is still no “Prince Charming” ballet.

Now, as Ballet Idaho gears up for “The Sleeping Beauty,” about one of the all-time great gals of ballet, let´s even the score.

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In the Idaho Statesman, Dana Oland talks to retiring principal dancer Frank Affrunti:

Idaho Statesman

Peter Anastos has been hired as Artistic Director of the new Ballet Idaho beginning with the 2008-09 season. He is beginning to audition dancers immediately. Dana Oland reports in the Idaho Statesman:

Idaho Statesman

Dana Oland talks to Peter Anastos in the Idaho Statesman:

Idaho Statesman

Dana Oland observes the new members of Ballet Idaho in the studio and talks with some of them in the Idaho Statesman:

Idaho Statesman

A preview of Ballet Idaho's season opener in works by Peter Anastos at the Boise State University Special Events Center, October 3-5, 2008, by Dana Oland in the Idaho Statesman:

Idaho Statesman

Ballet Idaho is performing Artistic Director Peter Anastos' version of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at a matinee and evening performance on Saturday, February 28, 2009 in the Velma V. Morrison Center in Boise. An uncredited writer previews the performance in the Idaho Statesman:

Idaho Statesman

Dana Oland reviews "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in the Idaho Statesman:

Idaho Statesman

In the Idaho Statesman, Dana Oland previews Ballet Idaho's May 1-3, 2009 repertory performance, which features a new work by Artistic Director Peter Anastos to music of Patsy Cline and Vivaldi:

Idaho Statesman