Time Capsule: A Century of Dance

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Modern Dance,
But Were Afraid to Ask

A guided tour through a 100 year legacy of dance, Time Capsule is an informative multi-media retrospective, paying homage to the ingenuity, creativity and inventive spirit of legendary 20th century choreographers. Repertory Dance Theatre's presigious historical repertory highlights the birth and evolution of an art form, and ties each piece to the social and political environment in which it was created. Covering everything from the early years of modern dance to today's finest choreographers, this one of a kind performance not only lives, but breathes, sweats, and leaps.

“RDT follows the development of American dance…with such total identification and vivacity that one could believe they actually were the pioneers of those early days with their passion for uprising and revolt against the conventions of the classics.” (Linda Zamboni, Die Presse, Vienna).

Highlights from the program include excerpts from Isadora Duncan’s Valse Brilliante, Doris Humphrey’s Soaring, Daniel Nagrin’s Strange Hero, José Limón’s There Is A Time, Anna Sokolow’s Lyric Suite, and Shapiro & Smith’s Dance for Two Army Blankets.

Time Capsule was developed with grant support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Elements

Contemporary repertory focusing on Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.

RDT presents choreography that will increase awareness of what it means to care for our earth; dance that defines our planet's four essential Elements to motivate our restorative adaption for a healthy planet.

RDT offers community activities that will focus on developing a more sustainable future by utilizing the Green Map System and the art of dance to inspire and encourage stewardship of our earth. By utilizing the international "Green Map" icons and a mapping system to gather information about your community, RDT will create a multidimensional portrait of "place" with workshops, performances, and celebrations.

Lady of the Lake from RDT on Vimeo.

Mystique

East/West, Yin/Yang, Historic/Contemporary

Known for its collection of classic and contemporary masterpieces, RDT is known as a “museum” that preserves over 100 years of dance history. Since 1966, Repertory Dance Theater has been committed to building a living archive of American modern dance from its formative years to the present time. Mystique offers a rare opportunity for audiences to see the work of Michio Ito (1893-1961).

In July of 2009 RDT hosted Kyoko Ryutani and Kumiko Komine, master teachers with Michio Ito Doomonkai in Japan, a school dedicated to preserving Ito’s work. They taught Michio Ito technique and theory and also re-staged eleven works created between 1916- 1929 plus a tribute to Ito choreographed after his death.

These 11 historic works will be featured in RDT’s residency of MYSTIQUE

The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded RDT an American Masterpieces grant of $120,000 which enables the company to become the repository of information preserving the legacy, method and repertory of Michio Ito in the United States. Support is also provided by Japan Foundation New York Performing Arts Program.

Michio Ito - Repertory Dance Theatre from RDT on Vimeo.