Break Dance Summer Camp

Ages:  5-7 and 8-12
Dates:  June 24th-28th
Times:  9-10:30 (for ages 5-7) and 10:45-12:15 (for ages 8-12)
Location:  McCall Community Center 
Cost:  $75 (price reduced thanks to a grant)
Instructor:  Jon Swarthout, TRICA

BREAK DANCE: Breakdance is an American born phenomenon that surged to global status- and it all started with a group of innovative kids in the 1970’s in The Bronx, NYC. During this favorite camp, students will learn to arm ripple, body wave, top rock, strut & worm as they learn and rehearse steps and perform the empowering story of breakdance in America with hip-hop synth music during a presentation to friends and family the last 15 minutes of class on the final day of camp.

Parents please send a water bottle and small snack to camp. Wear play clothes and sneakers.

To learn more about TRICA click HERE

Jon Swarthout – Founder & President of TRICA

Jon Swarthout danced professionally with Joffrey Ballet, Feld Ballets/New York and Oregon Ballet Theatre. He started in local theater productions as a child and formed his own theatre production company at age thirteen. Swarthout started ballet lessons at age fourteen, auditioned and was selected to attend North Carolina School of the Arts, where he was taught ballet by Melissa Hayden among others. He earned a full scholarship to attend the Houston Ballet Academy, where he distinguished himself and was inspired by professional dancers Janie Parker and Li Cunxin.

Swarthout launched an arts education career based in Idaho’s Treasure Valley and began working with children ages 2-12, teaching in all education settings near and far. Hearing of the innovative work with children being done by Jacques d’Amboise and National Dance Institute, Jon was so moved by NDI’s mission statement that he immediately signed up for a teacher training, where he saw compelling ways to refine his own method and take it to the next level. Swarthout was asked to co-teach with NDI’s Tracy Straus in Aspen and New York. He served on the Founding Committee for ANDI, Associates of National Dance Institute. Jon continues to share best practices and resources with NDI, as well as mentorship and inspiration.

Swarthout’s dream was always to return to his hometown, where he believed he could have the most impact. In 1996 he became Director of Educational Outreach for the Idaho Dance Theater. In1996 he founded TRICA, the Treasure Valley Institute for Children’s Arts, a multi-disciplined arts education program that has touched thousands of lives in the Northwest US.

In 2007, Swarthout acquired a 12,000 ft Romanesque-Baroque Stone Cathedral that was at risk of demolition and embarked upon a dream of transforming it into a children’s center for learning through the arts. In 2010 Swarthout became the father of twin daughters Ginger and Violet. Swarthout is working and raising his family in Boise, Idaho while making an impact on his community and beyond.