All Summer Classes are hosted by IFSB and held at the Studio (410 W. 16th Street) in Idaho Falls.
Guest teachers: Carolin Koepplin, Sergiu Brindusa, Mariko Downs, Tade Biesinger
Carolin Koepplin
Carolin Koepplin fell in love with ballet at the Idaho Falls School of Ballet under the tutelage of Deborah Bean. Carolin went on to earn a B.F.A. in Ballet cum laude from the University of Utah with an emphasis in both performance and teaching. Ms. Koepplin’s professional career has provided opportunities to dance with many wonderful artists and organizations. In California, she was a Soloist with Central West Ballet. In Oregon, she was a Principal Dancer with Ballet Fantastique originating many roles for premieres such as The Raven in Nevermore: Tales of Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Quite Contrary in Babes in Toyland, and Maid Marion in Robin Hood and Maid Marion. She joined Roanoke Ballet Theatre in Virginia in 2023.
“Ms. Cari” is also an accomplished Ballet and Character Dance instructor. Her students have gone on to train at prestigious year-round programs, summer intensives and their own professional careers: including Joffrey Academy, Nutmeg Conservatory, Oregon Ballet Theater, University of Cincinnati, and University of Utah. She currently teaches for Roanoke Ballet Theatre and Blacksburg Dance Theater.
Sergiu Brindusa
Sergiu Brindusa began his ballet training at the Institute of Music and Choreography of Bucharest, Romania, under the watchful eye of his father, who was at the time the premier danseur at the Romanian State Opera House. He then, graduated with the highest artistic achievement diploma from the prestigious Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington D.C. At the beginning of his professional career, Mr. Brindusa was invited to perform on numerous occasions alongside stars of The Kirov Ballet. In 1998, Mr. Brindusa joined the Orlando Ballet Company in Florida where his professional success ascended to new highs. It was also during this time that he obtained two great achievements as Finalist at the 2000 New York International Ballet Competition and the 2002 Jackson, Mississippi International Ballet Competition. Mr. Brindusa’s passion and versatility for dance was evident onstage. He excelled in the leading roles performed locally and abroad of many classical and contemporary ballets including Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake, Prince Florimund in The Sleeping Beauty, Prince/Cavalier in The Nutcracker, Count Albrecht in Giselle, Solor of La Bayadere, Franz in Coppelia and many others. He learned from and worked with many famous artists in the dance world including Fernando Bujones, Peter Stark, Oleg Vinogradov, Alla Sizova, Anatoli Kucheruk, Melissa Hayden, Robert North, Peter Anastos, Deborah Wingert, Karena Brock, Yan Chen, Winthrop Corey, Rasta Thomas, Sascha Radetzky and others. As a dancer, Mr. Brindusa’s passion for ballet has carried through the international dance communities of the United States, Romania, Mexico and South Korea. In 2005, along with his wife Beth Moore, they founded the Brindusa-Moore Ballet Academy in Pocatello, Idaho to provide students of all ages a danceprogram of highest caliber and training in ballet. After 12 years of a successful and creative run, Sergiu and Beth formed Alliance Academy of Dance where they produced some of the best competitive ballet achievements through their students, such as distinguished teacher awards, choreography awards and the grand prix award at the Youth America Grand Prix and the Universal Ballet Competition.
Today, as an experienced ballet teacher and coach, Mr. Brindusa loves creating opportunities for all students to become and embrace the true appreciation and beauty of this art form.
Mariko Downs
Mariko Downs is an Idaho native who has been dancing since the age of five, training primarily in advanced gymnastics and ballet. She studied under Janice James, a former Ballet West and New York City ballet dancer at the Ballet Society for three years. After which she moved to Boise Idaho to pursue her education and dance career. In Boise Mariko studied ballet with Marla Hansen, Co-Artistic Director of Idaho Dance Theatre. Over the next three years she performed contemporary ballet in the Boise valley and on tour. During her time with the company, she had the amazing opportunity to work with innovative choreographers such as: Marla Hansen, Carl Rowe, Jenn Freeman, and Lauren Edson of LED. While performing she received an Associates of Arts degree and a Bachelors in Communication. Mariko is impassioned by creating classical and contemporary work to share with the community around her! In 2019 she participated in the Rocky Mountain Choreography Festival and has received recognition for her expressive and innovative choreography. In 2021 she was part of a collaboration with the Idaho Falls School of Ballet and the Idaho Falls Symphony to present an evening of ballet where she created a new neoclassical piece to Swan Lake. She has been an instructor for the Idaho Falls School of Ballet under the direction of Deborah Bean for 15 years. In addition to dance, she loves to spend time with her husband and three daughters. Mariko is also a certified yoga, Pilates, and Progressive Ballet Instructor.
Tade Biesinger
Tade Biesinger is a New York City–based actor and dancer. He recently completed the First National Tour of Broadway’s Back to the Future, which he joined shortly after earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College. Originally from Bountiful, Utah, Tade began dancing at the age of seven and went on to star in the title role of Billy Elliot the Musical on Broadway and in London’s West End. His additional credits include performances at The Muny in St. Louis, Missouri, and Pioneer Theatre Company in Salt Lake City, Utah.
