Rocky Mountain Dance Theatre

Being born & raised in the "Wild West"; artistic Director of RMDT, Elizabeth Fernandez, dreamed of producing a dancing show about Buffalo Bill Cody and his Wild West Show for locals & tourists to enjoy. In 2016, this dream became a reality with RMDT’s first summer production of "Wild West Spectacular". In 2018 it became a full-fledged original historic & comedic musical which has a summer season at the historic Cody Theatre right in downtown Cody, Wyoming. Offering open auditions in the early spring, actors are cast from all over the country and live/housed and perform in Cody, Wyoming for the summer. This production also offers a unique opportunity for the small community as local RMDT Spring Company dancers are able to perform and do what they love for their summer job.
Script, choreograph, music, sets, and lighting are all original, led by professionals in their field, and funded by grants.

RMDT New York Experience is offered every other year for RMDT dancers 14 years & older. This Program is designed to give students the opportunity to experience dance and theatre in a way that is just not possible in Cody, Wyoming.

While in New York, they gain pre-professional experience by taking three to four, 1.5 hour dance classes a day from world-renowned teachers and trainers in several of the world’s top dance training facilities such as:
◾Broadway Dance Center
◾Steps on Broadway
◾Alvin Ailey
◾Peridance.
It is a full "New York experience" that while on this 8 day trip, dancers stay at a hotel downtown by Times Square and experience the hustle and bustle of big city living. Depending what is available while they are there, dancers also attend live performances of Broadway Musicals, New York City Ballet, or American Ballet Theatre.
Dancers who participate are required to raise a certain amount of money but would be hard to cover all costs on their own without funding.

RMDT’s Spring Company is an avenue for dancers who wish to excel in the art of performing. This elite group of dancers in Cody, Wyoming dedicate themselves to the study of dance and to the training necessary to excel. The repertory is more difficult than regular dance class and it is purposeful in its intent to propel students to the next level. Dancers in the most advanced levels at Rocky Mountain School of the Arts must audition for Spring Company in order to perform. Traditional dance classes, especially ballet, are used to train technique and foundation, not to learn dances. Great dance training requires both classwork and repertory work. RMDT’s Spring Company provides dancers with this opportunity.

RMDT Summer Outreach encompasses many rewarding experiences in which dancers are able to continue their study of dance. RMDT brings highly experienced dance instructors or performers to Cody, Wyoming for Intensives, Workshops, and Master Classes offered during the summer. These classes provide a concentrated time to perfect technique, and to learn about other aspects of dance such as dance history, terminology, and current affairs. Summer Outreach also give those dancers who plan to attend outside dance camps or RMDT's New York Experience the chance to ready themselves. In the past, RMDT Summer Outreach have included such names as Bonnie Story, Cherie Noble, Kathrine Kramer, and most recently Natalia Magnicaballi. This experience is extremely unique for our rural area and we are honored we are able to offer this programming made possible by donors.

RMDT's Access for All Program gives young people in our community and the surrounding areas the opportunity to attend a professional theater production of RMDT's annual Nutcracker Ballet.

Rocky Mountain Dance Theatre’s school performances reach approximately 1,200 elementary children each year. By partnering with schools, we ensure that no child is denied the opportunity to witness the performance because of transportation or other constraints. We provide teachers with resources and activity ideas to share with their students before attending a performance. Our hope is to engage this young audience by creating an understanding of the Nutcracker story and create a more engaged audience during the performance. Living in rural Wyoming, many children experience their first live performance with professional stage production through RMDT's Access for All program. We believe this access to the arts has the unique potential to encourage creativity and inspire young children.

A performing arts group supported by Rocky Mountain Dance Theatre offering plays, dramas, and other theater production opportunities year round for the community to attend and/or audition be a part of.
Mission: The Cody Theatre Company emphasizes excellence in all aspects of theatre by focusing on elevated production values. Through a wide spectrum of theatrical works; artists are challenged, inspired, and encouraged through a collaborative approach to individual artistic contributions.