FROM THE ARCHIVE – RDT’s Commitment to Commissioning New Work

An inspired partnership between the Rockefeller Foundation, the Salt Lake City community, and the University of Utah in 1966 launched Repertory Dance Theatre—a company with a bold mission to create, to perform, and to preserve modern dance. Today, RDT is a nationally known resource center and laboratory for contemporary dancers, choreographers, visual artists, writers, and composers.

Commissioning new work is an important part of RDT’s mission. We nurture the art of dance and support contemporary artists to contribute to a dynamic society as we use the arts to inspire, educate, heal, and promote creative solutions to problems.

RDT commissions new work from a breadth of renowned regional, national, and international artists. We also provide opportunities and a supportive environment for RDT company dancers and emerging choreographers to create.

We are proud to say that in 2025, about 60% of our repertory is made up of new work… over 284 dances.

Creating the “new” was essential in the development of modern dance. The American dance pioneers developed a tradition of independence, individualism, and personal style, in which innovation was preferred. They developed movement languages capable of articulating the spirit and energy of their time and were committed to using dance to communicate, enlighten, and help audiences understand our common humanity. They used their art form to bring awareness to social and political issues to identify things that we share as human beings.

RDT’s artistic initiatives have continued to drive innovation, often inspiring choreographers to focus on a particular theme.  RDT is committed to finding ways to engage audiences with activities inspired by history, literature, poetry, music, visual arts, environment, “place” and socially relevant issues.

Come see the most recent new works curated by RDT in Ovation!