What We Do
Photo by Andy Snow
At home and on the road, RIS works closely with presenters to ensure a lasting impact on each community by offering performances, workshops and residency activities for individuals of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.
We believe participation in the arts stimulates the imagination, challenges the intellect, cultivates the appreciation of beauty and deepens the emotional nature of every individual.
• Concert Performances: 60-120 minutes
Works from the Rep features original and traditional dance and music drawn from the company’s extensive repertoire.
Young at Heart is designed for family audiences and engaging folks from 2 to 92.
Symphony Pops features skillful orchestrations of RIS music and classical favorites, in collaboration with your local Philharmonic Orchestra.
Photo by Andy Snow
• Ensemble Performances: Designed for limited spaces using suitable pieces from the repertoire. 6-8 musicians and dancers, 45-60 minutes
Photo by Denise Mangen
• School Performances: Age-appropriate material, 5-18 years, focusing on the contagion of rhythm. These shows include new and old music and dance, informative narrative and audience participation. 45 minutes
• Workshops: Designed to explore every person’s—students to seniors—innate rhythmic sense. Accompanied by live music. (requires sprung, wooden floor)
Movement Basics explores the physical, aesthetic, social and creative world of dance through the development of kinesthetic awareness, body position and action, and intellectual awareness of how body movement is controlled. Students are introduced to basic dance class structure.
Rhythm Awakening is conducted with the intention of transmitting a sense of community, a heightened awareness of self within the group and a new language for communication. Using the most basic rhythms of a heartbeat and a hand clap, to the overlaying of hands, feet and voices in polyrhythmic symphony. (any surface)
Dance for Beginners offers entry-level instruction to tap dance, clogging or swing dancing.
• Master Classes: For dancers wanting to explore rhythmic expression at a deeper level. Can include live musical accompaniment. 60-90 minutes. (requires sprung,wooden floor)
Classical Tap explores classical rhythms and body weight carriage to a lifted center. Classical music and port de bras are used to enhance the dancer ’s presentation of steps.
Rhythm Tap focuses on clarity, precision and speed of steps. Dancers will learn to tap from the hips and ankles through a series of technical exercises. This class is taught to swing, blues and other forms of popular music.
Clogging classes are offered at beginning and advanced levels. Dancers learn to drop their weight in order to clog in the traditional, flatfoot style.
Swing Dance covers basic rhythms and steps, as well as more complicated moves and turnouts.
Photo by Andy Snow
Choreography explores the methods of composition used by RIS artistic directors in sessions focusing on creative choices, tools of construction, group dynamics, problem solving and the rewards of the creative process. (any surface)
• Social Dances: Square dances with an old-time string band and swing dances with a swing quartet for all ages, includes instruction. 90-120 minutes.
