Repertory Dance Theatre will launch its 61st season, titled "A Season of Gratitude," with the production LEGEND & LORE running from October 1 to October 3 at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. The program, which marks a milestone for the Salt Lake City institution, features a mix of historic masterworks and a new commission inspired by the legends of the Great Salt Lake.
The upcoming production, LEGEND & LORE, serves as the opening for the company's new season and introduces the Living Landscapes initiative. This multi-year project is inspired by the power of Utah's extraordinary landscapes to inspire art. The program includes works spanning more than seven decades of American modern dance, including Elizabeth Waters' Castor & Pollux, which returns to the RDT stage for the first time since 2021. Originally choreographed in 1956, the piece reflects Waters's exposure to Pueblo ceremonial traditions and explores the relationship between the mortal and immortal soul through a grounded, ritualistic quality.
The performance also features Liquid Interior, a 1994 commission by Margaret Jenkins and Ellie Klopp. Originally created to celebrate Utah's statehood centennial through the Centennial Landscape Suite, the work explores the Great Basin region of Utah and Colorado through a dreamlike landscape of memory. Additionally, the program includes Martha Graham's Dark Meadow Suite, an arrangement by Janet Eilber of Graham's 1946 work. Last performed by RDT in April 2026 as part of the ANTHOLOGY program, the suite uses music by Mexican composer Carlos Chávez to explore themes of memory, identity, and connection.
The centerpiece of the October program is a new commission by choreographer Penny Saunders. The work explores the enduring legend of whales in the Great Salt Lake, a late 19th-century hoax involving a British scientist named James Wickham. According to the legend, Wickham attempted to transport whales from Australia to Utah to establish a whale-oil industry, and the animals supposedly escaped and reproduced in the lake. Saunders uses this folklore to examine the intersection of fact, fiction, and the changing Utah landscape.
The 2026-2027 season represents a period of transition for the Salt Lake City institution. Following the tenure of founding dancer and longtime director Linda C. Smith, the company is now led by Co-Executive/Artistic Directors Nicholas Cendese and Lynne Larson. Cendese described the current season as a "full-circle moment" intended to celebrate the company's history and its supporters. The season's theme of gratitude was influenced by feedback from younger audience members who expressed a strong interest in the company's historical works.
The full 2026-2027 schedule includes several other major productions. In November, the company will present LAUGHTER from November 19 to November 21, featuring works by Norbert De La Cruz III, Nicholas Cendese, Susan Hadley, and Tim Hadel, alongside a new commission by Francesca Romo. The winter season includes EMERGE on January 8 and 9, which showcases choreography from RDT dancers and staff. In March, the company will host So You Think You Can Choreograph on March 6, an interactive project that invites community members to create original works with mentorship from RDT dancers.
The season will conclude in April with the LUMINARY program, running from April 15 to April 17. This event will launch the Honoring Linda C. Smith initiative, celebrating the legacy of the company's Director Emerita, and will feature a new commission by Ihsan Rustem alongside works by José Limón and Noa Zuk and Ohad Fishof. RDT continues to use a tiered ticket pricing model to maintain accessibility, with options for the LEGEND & LORE performances starting at $17 for Arts Enthusiasts, $32 for Arts Supporters, and $47 for Arts Champions.
