Repertory Dance Theatre Returns to Center Stage

Thursday, March 8, 6:30 p.m., Orcas Center

— from Susannah Weaver for Orcas Center —

Orcas Center welcomes the Repertory Dance Theatre (RDT) back to Center Stage on Thursday, March 8, 6:30 pm. RDT is the nation’s oldest and most successful repertory dance company. Unlike conventional modern dance organizations, RDT presents audiences with a diverse range of modern dance styles and choreographers paired together in dynamic and unexpected performances. Get your tickets now—bring the whole family for an unforgettable night of dance at Orcas Center.

This special production features three diverse works by masterful artists commenting on the resilience of the human spirit and the strength of community. Mazurkas by José Limón was created as a tribute to the heroic serenity of the Polish people after World War II. With music by Frédéric Chopin, this “classic” emphasizes elegant and expressive movement, the hallmark of Limón choreography. Dabke, by Zvi Gotheiner is a powerful contemporary work inspired by ancient Middle-Eastern folk dance. Blending Arab pop music and the use of dabkeh steps, Gotheiner uses the power of dance to reflect upon conflict in the Middle East and more universally, conflict in the world. Bolero by Joanie Smith & Daniel Shapiro features the hypnotic music of Ravel to explore the power of community and the endless nature of physical struggle. “Bolero is a thrill ride of a dance about the dynamic tensions that define the human experience,” said The Star Tribune -Minneapolis

According to Repertory Dance Theatre: “New viewers often ask us what to expect from an RDT performance. We tell them grace and athleticism, beauty and power. Beyond that, we tell them to embrace the unexpected. So, what is RDT Dance all about? Simply said, we are about art. Art in motion, expressed through our bodies as modern dance. Art that in its immediacy and intimacy can be both thrilling and profound. Art that challenges you, and art that you won’t see coming.”

In addition to public performances, RDT produces a variety of community-based programs and has a long-standing commitment to arts-in-education. Outreach activities include lectures, informal performances and classes which all serve to train and ignite the creative voice in people of all ages. See the Orcas Center website for a list of RDT outreach movement classes in Eastsound on Wednesday, March 7. For over 50 years, RDT has pushed the boundaries of modern dance, while preserving and celebrating its legacy. Today, RDT is just as revolutionary as they were in 1966 – come and see the performance on March 8, 6:30 pm at Orcas Center.

Tickets for Repertory Dance Theatre are $29, $21 students and $3 off for Orcas Center members and may be purchased now at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 12-3 pm. $5 subsidized tickets available at the Box Office. For more information about Orcas Center’s 2017-2018 season visit www.orcascenter.org.