RDT cements its popularity with dynamic 'Bricks'

"TOUCHSTONE," REPERTORY DANCE THEATRE, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, Thursday, additional performance tonight (355-2787).

It's OK to cry. And it will be hard not to when you see Zvi Gotheiner's new work, "Bricks."

This is the fifth work the New York choreographer has created for the Repertory Dance Theatre, and like the works that came before, this commissioned selection is a masterpiece.

Taking rough-cut transparent plastic bricks, the dancers build walls and a doorway while dancing to an emotional score written by composer Scott Killian.

Dancers on the program include Angela Banchero-Kelleher, Nicholas Cendese, Chara Huckins, Thayer Jonutz, Josh Larson, Lynne Listing, Chien-Ying Wang and guest dancer Paul Ocampo.

And each finds life, death, redemption, loneliness, companionship, sin, remorse and restitution throughout the work.

The bricks become barriers, gateways and burdens. But in the end, they form a gateway to peace. The dance is laced with Gotheiner's trademark emotion, as well as a casualness and the expected precision.

"Bricks" wraps up a program called "Touchstone," which kicks off RDT's 40th anniversary season, and it's the perfect ending for this dynamic collection of dances.

For four decades the Repertory Dance Theatre has pushed the boundaries of movement and art, and "Touchstone" continues the dance company's legacy with an array of works from various points in the company's lifetime.

Opening the evening is "Together Again," a three-segment work that premiered in 1978, and which is danced here by RDT and the Children's Dance Theatre. The colorful costumes and joyful dancing pay tribute to CDT founder Virginia Tanner.

Young dancers team with RDT veterans — and even RDT artistic director Linda C. Smith takes part in this celebratory work. And the finale is nothing short of a kaleidoscope of color.

RDT alum Todd Allen returns as a guest to premiere his work "Lend Me Your Hot Licks."

During this expressionistic solo, New York resident Allen dances to the live classical-guitar composition written by Leo Brouwer and played by Stephen Lyman.

Up next is an untitled solo work that was choreographed in 2002 by Marina Harris. RDT's Lynne Listing takes on the flowing steps and makes the piece her own.

When it ends, the way Listing looks over her shoulder is sublime.

Clearing the way for "Bricks" is Laura Dean's ritualistic "Sky Light."

A favorite for the audience Thursday night, "Sky Light," which premiered in 1982, takes on a tribal tone as the percussive soundtrack pushes the dancers to repetitive physical gestures.

The highlight of this exciting work is the spinning. Each dancer spins in the spotlight twice. Each time, the audience feels a sense of cleansing, peace and serenity.

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E-mail: scott@desnews.com