LED presents Moves + Movies, a festival of film and live performance

BOISE, Idaho (April 28, 2026) — This May, LED — an interdisciplinary arts company based in Boise, Idaho, known for its cinematic approach to movement — presents Moves + Movies, a four-day festival dedicated to dance on camera and its evolving relationship to the screen. Presented in partnership with the Idaho Film Society, the festival runs May 14-17, 2026 at The Dixon.

For over a decade, LED has cultivated a body of work that exists equally in live performance and on film, developing a distinct movement language shaped by cinematic storytelling. Moves + Movies brings that history into focus, offering a concentrated look at how choreography transforms when translated to screen — and how film, in turn, reshapes the possibilities of dance.

Positioned at the intersection of concert dance and independent film, the festival pairs curated screenings with live performance each evening, inviting audiences to experience choreography as both a recorded and immediate form. The program moves between LED’s original films, influential works, and new premieres that reflect the company’s continued investment in dance for the camera.

Among the featured works are two significant films:

* “Silver City” — a film adaptation of LED’s 2021 stage work, set in Silver City and featuring a cast of artists from across the country. The project continues LED’s exploration of how narrative and environment evolve through cinematic treatment.

* “Ruin” — a feature-length film developed during the pandemic, directed by Idaho Film Society’s Aidan Brezonick, written and choreographed by Lauren Edson, with an original score by LED’s Andrew Stensaas. The work explores what performance becomes in the absence of a live audience.

The festival also includes a screening of “Singin’ in the Rain,” situating LED’s work within a broader lineage of dance created for the camera. From Hollywood musical traditions to contemporary experimental forms.

“Film allows us to reframe choreography,” says LED’s Artistic Director, Lauren Edson. “It lets us control perspective, time, and intimacy in ways that aren’t possible on stage. This festival is an opportunity to share not just finished works, but the ongoing conversation between dance and the screen that has shaped our process for years.”

LED describes itself as “a group of artists and creatives translating movement, music, stories, and visuals into cinematic worlds” — a framework that underpins the curatorial approach of Moves + Movies. By bringing together collaborators and influences from across disciplines, the festival highlights a growing ecosystem of artists working between dance and film, both in Idaho and nationally.

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FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Thursday May 14 — LED + Friends (7:30 p.m.)
A program of short dance films by LED and collaborators, showcasing a range of approaches to choreography for the camera.

Friday May 15 — “Silver City” (7:30 p.m.)
The premiere of “Silver City,” a cinematic reimagining of a stage work exploring how environment and narrative expand through film.

Saturday May 16 — “Singin’ in the Rain” (7:30 p.m.)
A screening of the landmark film musical, highlighting early intersections of choreography and cinema.

Sunday May 17 — “Ruin” (7:30 p.m.)
A feature-length dance film examining performance and connection in the absence of a traditional stage.