When it comes to access to the performing arts, students in rural communities are severely underserved due to community demographics (poverty), distance from urban centers with cultural amenities, and limited arts education in the schools. Professional dance, in particular, remains largely inaccessible locally due to the lack of performance spaces appropriate for dance and the high cost of bringing artists to rural areas.

What is YouthReach? We partner with schools in Latah (Potlatch, Deary, Bovill, Kendrick, Juliaetta, Troy, Genesee, and Moscow), Nez Perce (Lapwai) and Benewah (DeSmet) counties in Idaho, and Whitman County (Garfield, Palouse, Pullman, and Colton) in Washington, to reach students in grades 3-5 with our YouthReach Program, which is provided at no cost to the schools or students.

Festival Dance is a critical connection to the arts for these schools and youth, providing dance education that meets national and state core arts standards, enhances appreciation for the arts, develops cultural awareness, and connects students to history, music, and physical education. They learn to create and perform dance as well as how to comprehend its meaning.

Recently, one educator said, “Living in a rural community, many of our students do not have opportunities to attend fine and performing arts events.” Another commented, “Many of them [students] are uneducated about opportunities in the arts and how it connects to so many other facets of life. This helped them learn that.”

Festival Dance and Performing Arts Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to performing arts and dance education since 1972.

Our Programs:

Great Performances Series, a series of major events featuring performances by acclaimed ballet, modern dance, jazz, musical theatre and cultural dance companies.

Festival Dance Academy, providing professional dance instruction in residence at the University of Idaho and a community-based location in Troy, ID. We are the premier provider of dance education in the region.

Discover Dance Program brings free dance education opportunities into local elementary schools.

YouthReach Program offers free educational dance programs for local schools by professional artists.

YouthReach Workshops