Six years isn’t a lot of time. Linda Smith has devoted her life to Repertory Dance Theatre. As I reflect about what I learned while working for Linda, about the company’s mission to keep American Modern Dance and about the teachings from fellow dancers and about conversations with world renown artists, it is difficult to sum everything up in a few words. There are many lessons that come hand in hand with the job. For example, we become more intelligent…
This year, I had the opportunity to be a rehearsal director during the restaging of “Theatre,” which is a Danielle Agami piece that was originally set and performed on RDT in 2016. This piece is special to me for many reasons. During the original staging Danielle brought her company, Ate9 of Los Angeles, to Utah for a two-week residency. I felt pushed to my limits in every way. I immediately connected with the drive that Danielle had in her rehearsal…
As I look back on the past five years of work with Repertory Dance Theater, I find one of the most interesting aspects of being a company member is the immense detail and full investment of artist and dancer during a choreographic process. Throughout each residency, a choreographer comes prepared in a way that is different and unique to them as a movement specialist. It is our job, as performing artists and humans, to absorb the task at hand; analyze…
RDT dancers perform repertory spanning 102 years. How do dancers find the right emotional qualities in such a wide range of choreographic styles? Fifth-year company member, Dan Higgins, explores what works best for him in our latest dancer blog post! Often throughout our artistic endeavors we are faced with subject matter that is daunting, unfamiliar, and challenging to connect to. Perhaps one of the most difficult notions to grasp as a dance and movement artist is how to portray an…
How does a first-year Company member work through learning dances that the rest of the Company has known for years? Daniel Do shares his valuable lesson that applies to more than just learning choreography. I recently started my first season as a company member with Repertory Dance Theatre. I am thrilled to be back in my hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah and to be dancing, training, and growing everyday as an artist. Already working with the company for a few…
Repertory Dance Theatre’s 53rd season opens with a tribute to yesterday and today in SPIRIT, October 4-6. The concert features two historical works (including the modern dance classic, “Rainbow ‘Round My Shoulder” by Donald McKayle) as well as two world-premieres. We will be featuring interviews with each of the choreographers as we lead up to the show. See Tiffany Rea-Fisher’s video here>>, and Natosha Washington’s video here>>. Last on our list is Les Watanabe, who came to RDT in July to set the…