Arts Fest wraps up with eye on '06

Utahns can expect some local favorites and national originals for next year's 30th annual Utah Arts Festival.

"The anniversary will give us a chance to do some things we haven't done in a while," said Robyn Nelson, executive director of the festival. "We already have committees getting together and doing a lot of brainstorming (for the 2006 festival)."

Roughly 80,000 people enjoyed the 10 acres of booths, venues, exhibits and films at the four-day festival, largely thanks to the cooler weather.

"It's been cooler, so nobody's cranky," Nelson said. "It's everything we wanted it to be this year."

This year, UAF was graced by international and national performers who quickly became festival favorites. Project Bandaloop, a dance troupe that combines mountain climbing with dancing, used the glass wall of the library as a vertical stage for six off-the-wall performances — literally.

"It has reformed what modern dance is, reformed what climbing could be," said Amelia Rudolph, founder and artistic director. "It's bringing together the things that I love."

Jumping, twisting, twirling and flipping through the air, the seven fearless dancers performed Thursday and Friday night and twice on Saturday and Sunday night.

Whether on a bridge, building, tower, gallery, warehouse, atrium, convention hall, theater, stage, or in nature itself, the troupe, based in Oakland, Calif., performed a variety of numbers. Rudolph's unique choreographer has explored settings throughout North America and even in parts of Portugal, Brazil, Canada, Africa, Argentina, Lithuania and Austria.

"They've (audience) shared in an event that's very public and open but shared that experience with us," Rudolph said.

They've performed from Yosemite's El Capitan to David Letterman's show, and Project Bandaloop brought a unique flair to the festival. But Project Bandaloop wasn't the only group who brought nationally acclaimed, and some internationally acclaimed, work to Utah.

Between French archi-sculptor Yorga, blues singer Charlie Musselwhite, California Guitar Trio and a diverse selection of short films, the festival incorporated literary, performing, visual and culinary arts.

"When it all lines up like this, it is a really, really great year," Nelson said. "I'm exhausted, but I'm smiling."

Nelson is happy the festival will be celebrating its 30th anniversary next year and said it serves as a testament to the community for continuing to support the arts.

"We'll put this one to bed and get the next one up and going and it'll be here before you know it," she said.

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