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Repertory
from French repertoire 1 : the complete catalogue or supply of works available for performance 2 : a stock of skills , devices, or ingredients used in a particular field, occupation, or practice Etude from French étude (“study”) 1: a short composition designed as an exercise to improve technique or skills 2 : a composition built on a technical motif but played for its artistic value |
Repertory Etudes (or RepEtudes for short) are short dances based on signature works by significant American choreographers (see our current collection). They allow students, dancers, and the general public to have access to modern dance masterpieces for learning, performing, and viewing. As with the study of a detail in a painting or a musical motif, the larger work and the choreographer are discovered in the RepEtude through study, reflection, and performance.
A revolutionary concept in the field of dance, these challenging studies stand on their own as concert pieces and also as rich tools for improving dance technique and performance skills. They also provide any individual with an incredible resource to engage in a deep level of lifelong learning about dance. Repertory Etudes offer people, from all walks of life, the opportunity to explore, discuss, and appreciate their own personal connection to American dance as well as its cultural relevance.
A revolutionary concept in the field of dance, these challenging studies stand on their own as concert pieces and also as rich tools for improving dance technique and performance skills. They also provide any individual with an incredible resource to engage in a deep level of lifelong learning about dance. Repertory Etudes offer people, from all walks of life, the opportunity to explore, discuss, and appreciate their own personal connection to American dance as well as its cultural relevance.
RepEtudes came to fruition in the early 1990s and were the brainchild of Dancing Legacy visionary Carolyn Adams. Carolyn spent 17 years touring the world with modern dance giant Paul Taylor. After retiring from her performing career, Carolyn's focus shifted to teaching and she began to recognize that far too few students, professional dancers, and audiences had ongoing access to the very best that dance had to offer. She conceived of Repertory Etudes in order to close that gap. Carolyn’s sister, and fellow Dancing Legacy visionary, Julie Adams Strandberg, had also witnessed the need for greater access in the field of dance in her own work at Brown University and in the Rhode Island arts scene. She championed Carolyn’s idea, and together, the Adams sisters launched the commissioning of various Repertory Etudes beginning with one based on Donald McKayle’s masterpiece, Rainbow ‘Round My Shoulder.
Through Dancing Legacy programming, we have witnessed time and again the profound impact that Repertory Etudes can have on individuals and communities through fostering artistic growth, empathy, social engagement, and personal expression. Through RepEtudes, we guide learners in understanding the intention behind movement, rather than merely imitating it. Our approach highlights the role of the individual in bringing dance to life, instilling a sense of responsibility to the work as well as personal ownership. We believe that if everyone did this work, the world would be a better place.
Header photo credit: Jonathan Bradley