RDT reaches out to families in eye-catching 'Joyride II'

"JOYRIDE II," REPERTORY DANCE THEATRE, Rose Wagner Center, Nov. 17, additional performances Nov. 20-21 (801-355-2787)

Repertory Dance Theatre knows how to reach out to families.

With "Joyride II," the follow-up to last year's family production, RDT has not only created another program of eye-catching repertoire, but it also offers a chance to think about health, nutrition and all-around active living.

Although "Joyride II" comprises 15 works — including two excerpts from longer pieces — it clocks in at about one hour and 15 minutes. However, time flies when the audience is having fun.

The show immediately captivates the audience with Tim Hadel's "Rhythm Box," where the dancers systematically juggle and build a wall with cardboard boxes by weaving themselves in intricate patterns.

The boxes emerge throughout the production and become not only a wall, but also a pet dog.

The dancers use spoken lines to interact with the audience as they tell jokes and set up following scenes.

High-energy and dynamic works by Natosha Washington ("Steppin' "), Andrea Miller ("Girl With Microphone"), Susan Hadley (excerpts from "Fin Amours" and "Blue Grass") and Hadel ("Head Bop," "Teetering Tower," "Four Hues" and "Polka") are sequenced within other works choreographed by RDT dancers.

The jumping visuals of "Sight Seeing," by Sarah Donohue and Aaron Wood, the air-bag comedic romp of Donohue's "Wild Air" and Chara Huckins-Malaret's "Teamwork" show the company's flair for fun, quirkiness and innovative partnering.

Then there are the works by Nicholas Cendese — "Exercise" and "Technologic" — which finds their grooves with high-energy and aerobic moves.

"Joyride II" is a solid production that shows dance can be fun for the whole family, without losing integrity or becoming patronizing to audiences that love dance.

e-mail: scott@desnews.com