Dance | Music

RDT’s “Revere” Brings Collaborators to Celebrate Jose Limon

Photo by Nathan Sweet Photography

Photo by Nathan Sweet Photography

Repertory Dance Theatre has a long tradition of collaborating with the arts community. It only makes sense for them to culminate their 50th anniversary season with a collaboration. “Revere” brings together various artists to honor José Limón, whose work has been part of RDT’s repertoire since 1967. The Salt Lake Vocal Artists, conducted by Brady Allred, world-renowned pianist Vassily Primakov, and organist Brian Mathias, join the RDT dancers along with guest dancers from the University of Utah to pay tribute to this modern dance legend.

For REVERE, Limón’s two choreographic masterpieces will feature live music through collaborations with the Salt Lake Vocal Artists and Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation.

“Suite from MAZURKAS,” originally choreographed in 1958, was created in honor of the cities and people of Poland. The piece will be performed to live piano music by internationally-known Chopin interpreter and Gina Bachauer Silver Medalist Vassily Primakov, from Russia.

RDT will also re-stage Limón’s 1958 work, “MISSA BREVIS.” The score by Zoltán Kodály is written for mixed chorus and organ and will be performed live by Salt Lake Vocal Artists (directed by Brady Allred) and organist Brian Mathias. The choreography is a memento to human resilience and the cities destroyed during WWII. RDT last performed this piece in 2013 and it was touted as “the must-see dance piece of the year.”

Linda C. Smith, Executive and Artistic Director of Repertory Dance Theatre, says it’s fitting for their company to include the works of someone whose choreography exemplifies the spirit of RDT. “The opportunity for us to perform these incomparable works using live music elevates the artistic experience for both the audience and the performers.”

Brady Allred, conductor of Salt Lake Vocal Artists is looking forward to the performance, which has been fifteen months in the making. “I love the fact that the choral art form, which is already so expressive and beautiful because of human voices singing together, can be enhanced by the beauty of dance.  This collaboration creates a new piece, a new art, a new expression that I am sure the composer never thought would happen for this ‘Missa Brevis.’  It takes the emotional impact to new depths and heights.”

Allred acknowledges that many small arts organizations seem to put most of their energy into surviving and rarely have the time to experience each other’s work, and he welcomes these collaborations as they come. “Collaborations open so many new doors and develop new friendships and artistic alliances.  It’s good for us to work together and it’s good for the community to see that a group of artists can work together.”

RDT will perform “Revere” April 14-16 at 7:30 pm at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. Tickets are available at arttix.org

 

Categories: Dance | Music

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