Aspen Phillips

Ballet Idaho Development Director

About:

I graduated from Boise State University with a B.A. in Multidisciplinary Studies, Minor in Communications, and Applied Leadership Certificate. My past experience includes working at The Idaho Foodbank, as a core member of the Development Team. I have a passion and appreciation for the non-profit sector, as I believe it is fundamental for a well-functioning society.

Why did you join the Ballet Idaho family?

My soul has deep roots tied to ballet. I grew up in the studio, and my worth always felt dependent on how well I performed or how strong I felt in my classes. Dancing was my passion for so many years and the emotional connection I had to dance was stronger than any other that I had experienced during those formative years. I used dance as a gateway to release my feelings and share my sentiments with others. During the years post-high school, I became less dedicated to the arts but always knew that I needed to find my way home again. Ballet Idaho has given me the opportunity to reignite my love for dance, and share that passion with others in the community. The arts are unique in the sense that they ground us as human beings, and make us question our choices and motives. I strongly feel that dance creates individuals that are empathetic, hardworking, dedicated, motivated, creative, and authentic. I am thrilled to be a part of Ballet Idaho so that we might continue to share the importance of maintaining a healthy arts community in Idaho and beyond.

If we were to dance to any song, which one would you choose?

Holocene by Bon Iver.  Holocene is a humbling song, that reminds us as humans that we are only merely a small part of this world. We tend to place such a huge emphasis on our actions, accomplishments, and in reverse our failures, that we often lose sight of what the larger picture might be. I envision this piece would be emotional and raw, and one that inspires a deeper internal dialogue.