Francisco Gella danced with RDT from 1996-1998. It was his first professional dancing job after graduating from the University of Washington. Later he went on to dance with Philadelphia Dance Company and, later, Ballet Pacifica and the California Ballet. In the video below, Gella talks about what it has been like to work on the other side of creation
In this artistic statement, William "Bill" Evans talks about his upcoming concert at Repertory Dance Theatre (Nov. 16-18, 2017) TOP BILL, a retrospective of five decades of choreography. Evans, an RDT dancer alum, has regularly returned to Utah, where he is from, to create new work for RDT and to re-stage contemporary classics from his prodigious oeuvre. RDT's
By Lauren Bloomfield When I first found out that we were going to be working with Andy Noble and Repertory Dance Theatre and would perform in their concert, I was amazed. Though excited and grateful for the opportunity, I was also nervous. This would be a very different experience than what I had done before, and I wasn’t sure
In Part II, Linda C. Smith, RDT's Executive/Artistic Director, reported on the group's visit to Fry Canyon Ruin, the precipitious switchbacks of Moki Dugway and a kiva at the Cave Tower Ruin before the dancers spent time doing improvisation, culminating in a shamanic healing ritual by one of the Native American guides, Ida Yellowman (Dine). Here in the final
In Part I, Linda C. Smith, RDT's Executive/Artistic Director, talks about the origins of RDT's new commission, inspired by the recently proclaimed Bears Ears National Monument in southeastern Utah. To tour the Bears Ears is to enmesh in oneself in the cultures of Native Americans who have lived in this area from time immemorial. It is not only
Repertory Dance Theatre believes that each of us has a unique “sense of place” that can be explored through movement and art. RDT’s newest commission by Zvi Gotheiner, Sacred Lands/Sacred Waters, is the Company’s latest exploration, this time, linked to the newly-proclaimed Bears Ears National Monument in south-eastern Utah. This new work will be a tribute to Bears Ears, to
Repertory Dance Theatre (RDT) had a wonderful weekend of performing April 6-8, 2017 RDT's Season closer DABKE, one of the dancers' favorite pieces to perform. We had three straight nights of standing ovations, heartfelt comments from audience members, and an amazing emotional connection to the work and to the audience. RDT dancer Efren Corado Garcia epitomizes the gratitude and enthusiasm
Choreographer Zvi Gotheiner explores the choreography of DABKE and his relationship with RDT. DABKE runs April 6-8, 2017 at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. This video will open the show. Learn more and get tickets here. ABOUT ZVI GOTHEINER ZVI GOTHEINER was born and raised in a kibbutz in northern Israel. Zvi began his artistic career as a gifted violinist with
REGALIA 2017 was a process, a performance, and a party for the ages. On February 11, 2017, four choreographers {Nick Blaylock, Aubry Dally, Eric Handman, and Nichele Van Portfleet} were each given 8 dancers and 4 hours to create a brand new piece of choreography. The audience was invited to watch the choreographers work in the studio, and then
A hand placed over your mouth … A hand covering your eyes … your partner's eyes … Grabbing someone by the neck … Imagine my joy when I get feedback on my piece saying, “Wow, you did a whole dance about the ‘forbidden’ gestures. That was gutsy.” Oops … I totally did. How did this happen? I didn’t mean to use gestures that