Dance Alliance is BYU-Idaho’s elite dance company. Made up of around 28 of the campus’s finest dancers, they always put on an amazing performance. Featuring a variety of styles such as ballet, ballroom, contemporary, hip-hop, jazz and so many more, they are ready to perform their 2024 tour which will showcase hit songs from the Beatles. In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Beatles’ arrival in America, they are ready to show everyone what they’ve been working on.
Amy De Vera, who has a rich background in dance, obtained her degree in choreography and performance from BYU-Idaho. Her journey from student to educator has been fueled by her deep love and passion for dance. She says she enjoys seeing students fall in love with what she loves and is excited to accompany them on their personal journeys.
“It’s fun to see what I love being treasured and brought to so many people through dance alliance,” Vera said in an interview with BYU-Idaho Radio.
For the performers, as well as teachers, being in Dance Alliance includes a great commitment. Balancing their personal life and professional duties along with dance can be challenging. Vera highly commends her students for their dedication, knowing that they are juggling part time jobs, being a student and being part of the group all at once.
“We have like 14 to 15 hours a week just in rehearsal for Dance Alliance. That’s not including many other dance classes that (students) might be taking,” she said. “It’s not uncommon for them to be dancing 25, 30 hours a week.”
The talented group of dancers also often get to travel around the globe to learn about dances from other cultures as well as do performances themselves. They have performed in several U.S. locations as well as Canda and other international countries. This year, they are heading to the Midwest. They will stop in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan and will have five performances on their tour.
“The dancers are really well versed and it’s really exciting to see them in their element as they perform for all kinds of audiences all over the states,” Vera said.
Vera is very enthusiastic about the upcoming Extravadance performance. It will be an homage of the Beatles and the 60th anniversary of their arrival in America. The performance will feature a wild variety of dance styles to popular Beatles songs. Vera is excited for the audience to witness all the hard work and talent of her students.
If you are interested in seeing the upcoming Dance Alliance performances, you can find that information atbyui.edu/performance-tours/.