Category Archives: Current News

#TMYK Boys & The Arts

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Boys & The Arts Despite the common stereotype, The Arts is not just for girls! In fact, many people do not realize just how beneficial Arts programs can be specifically for BOYS. Creative disciplines gained by participating in programs like dance and music classes are valuable life skills for both genders but here are 3 […]

A Unique Western Experience

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Most people traveling through Wyoming are looking for the real western deal. Visitors want to go back in time to where the west was still wild; to experience exciting history firsthand, and to be amazed in some way. William F. Cody, historical figure and showman, is iconic for bringing the Wild West to audiences all […]

Natalia Magnicaballi summer 2020

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What a crazy and challenging spring, and like most of you, RMSA/RMDT is very excited to be together once again for our summer programs. Every summer,  Rocky Mountain Dance Theatre in Cody, Wyoming has a summer outreach program with Intermediate and Advanced Dance Intensives. This year, once again, a week of Ballet Master Classes taught by Principal Dancer Natalia Magnicaballi, will be part of the line up.
Magnicaballi has had a long relationship with RMSA/RMDT, beginning in 2005, when she first performed the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in RMDT’s annual production of The Nutcracker. For the past five years she has taught Master Ballet classes for summer intensives. In 2018, Magnicaballi retired from Ballet Arizona after over 15 years of dancing but she continues her coaching and teaching in the United States and abroad. As a Principal Dancer, she also continues to work close with Suzanne Farrell and has since the day Ferrell started the Company in 2001.
Since Magnicaballi is a big part of RMSA/RMDT’s dance family, we reached out and asked if she had anything she wanted to share about this years program. Here are her touching words which come at such a meaningful time:
“2020. There is no doubt this year will be remembered and marked in history books forever. In many cases, if not most, for unhappy reasons. But then what is happiness, its true meaning? Just sat down to write these lines, knowing I will be soon visiting and working with RMSA dancers again, and I would be lying, if not admitting the immense feeling of joy running through me. Am I blessed? I sure feel so!
It’s not a secret the Arts have been my life. In my humble understanding art is as much of a basic need as the air we breath to live. I truly believe so… based on the story of my life. But now, seeing the impressive amount of effort and commitment the younger generations have been showing, jumping from bed to cold tile or concrete floors, executing their dance combinations in the most limited kitchen spaces, and still smiling to the computer’s camera, when doing so, and still hoping and asking for more … I realize, one more time, I’m not alone.
I can once again confirm that dancing, as an expression, was, is and will always be one of the main resources we humans have not only to express ourselves, but to be.
Seeing how much the Arts are struggling all over the world is simply devastating. But, and this is a very big but, it has been always during the most trying times along our history when very special people took a stand and made a difference. For that I must thank you Ms. Liz! I always treasured your commitment, your love to our art form and your incredibly hard work to achieve excellence. Your willingness and decision to continue doing so, despite the odds, is very humbling and makes me feel blessed to have the opportunity to work with you, your very talented students and your whole team, once again! And to count you, Ms. Liz, among my true dear friends.
So here I find myself, knowing it’s only a matter of days until I will be there, in Cody, at the RMSA studios, having the wonderful opportunity to pass my knowledge to the new generations of dancers at RMSA, one more time” – Natalia Magnicaballi
RMSA/RMDT looks forward to Magnicaballi’s arrival, and we feel blessed that our students and the community have the opportunity to learn from her expertise.
The general public, RMSA Alumni, and RMSA Academy 2B and older students can register for this week of Intensives, with the Ballet Master Classes online or through our free studio app. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity which is scheduled for June 15-18, 2020 in Cody, Wyoming.

RMSA/RMDT Summer Dance Opportunities

Natalia Magnicaballi (Principal) was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and has been a principal dancer with The Suzanne Farrell Ballet since its conception in 1999 and with Ballet Arizona 2002-2018. A graduate of Teatro Colón, she became a principal dancer at the age of 19 with Julio Bocca’s Ballet Argentino. In Europe, she joined the Italian company Aterballetto under Mauro Bigonzetti’s direction. Her repertoire includes the lead roles in 30 Balanchine creations, the leads in the most beloved classic ballets, as well as works and premiers by Jirí Kylián, Roland Petit, Maurice Bejart, Mauro Bigonzetti, Jerome Robbins, Dwight Rhoden, Paul Mejia, Ib Andersen, Oscar Araiz, Mauricio Wainrot, Ana María Stekelman, Alberto Méndez, Christopher Wheeldon, and Alexei Ratmansky. She has toured and performed in the main houses and arena theatres in five continents including the Paris Opera Garnier and the Mariinsky Theatre. Natalia has been featured as one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” and named “Best Dancer” by The Arizona Republic.

Photo Credit: ©Rosalie O’Connor Photography

Announcing 2020 Cast of Wild West Spectacular the Musical

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RMDT had over 75 auditions this year; thank you to all who auditioned and congratulations to our 2020 summer cast. Cast Annie Oakley- Darby Johnson Buffalo Bill Cody- Evan Wambeke Clem- Ted Wambeke Clementine- Taylor Brotherton Frank Butler- Trevor Koch Irma- Cali Allen, Madison Dallman, Hayden Grant, Daelyn Kaelberer, Peyton Marsh Jess Willard- Cam Schott […]

COVID 19 & the Studio

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Rocky Mountain School of the Arts is working hard to finish the year strong.  In response to the quarantine, RMSA immediately began providing dance classes remotely.  Livestream classes and recorded classes continue, and to date we have recorded over 90 videos and provided over 10 livestream classes. Piano lessons have also continued but our final […]

RMDT Musical Theatre Workshop

Musical Theatre Workshop

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The Cody area maybe considered “rural”, but our arts and culture are far from it! Rocky Mountain Dance Theatre in Cody, Wyoming is offering an exciting new Musical Theatre Workshop for performers ages 11 through adult. With a wide variety of active musical theatre groups and performances in the area, the workshop hopes to excite […]

RMDT Nutcracker is Setting the Stage

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Rocky Mountain Dance Theatre’s 22nd Annual Nutcracker Production has now come and gone but the excitement continues. December 2019’s performances revealed the beginning stages of a new look and feel.  Designed by Casey Kearns, the Nutcracker stage was reinvented through new backdrops and scenery.  This will be an ongoing project over the next few years, […]

Nutcracker 2018

New Guest Artists for 2019 Nutcracker

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Local non-profit, Rocky Mountain Dance Theatre is proud to announce two new guest artists performing the roles of the Cavalier and the Sugar Plum Fairy for this year’s 22nd Annual Nutcracker Ballet. Randy Pacheco and Sasha Vincett are both soloists for Ballet Arizona in Phoenix, Arizona. Pacheco is from Camagűey, Cuba and has been dancing […]

Rocky Mountain School of the Arts Studio A

#TMYK: Rocky Mountain School of the Arts is a State-of-the-Art Facility

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It may be hard to believe, but Rocky Mountain School of the Arts in small town Cody, Wyoming is a State-of-the-Art Facility. The school is comprised of 3 separate dance studios, a specialized dancers stretching area, observation windows & video streaming of dance classes, foot showers, changing rooms, one music room with 2 pianos (one […]

Rocky Mountain School of the Arts Contemporary Dance

#TMYK: Difference Between Contemporary & Modern Dance

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Frequently, I am asked to explain the difference between Modern dance and Contemporary dance. One of my dance professors in college, Dr. Sandra Cerny Minton, wrote several books regarding modern dance. In her book, Modern Dance, Body & Mind, she states “The philosophy behind modern dance allows considerable freedom to the dancer.” Modern dance is […]