Utah Valley University’s Noorda Center for the Performing Arts will host two nationally renowned dance companies this weekend for a pair of performances.

“A Celebration of Contemporary Dance: Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company and Repertory Dance Theatre in Concert” will be presented at the Noorda’s Smith Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

“Audiences should be prepared to be moved intellectually, psychologically, and emotionally. The arts speak to us in a way that oftentimes reveals the truth more clearly than any other medium,” Angie Banchero-Kelleher, a dance department faculty member, said in a press release. “We live in challenging times, and the arts provide an avenue into the dialogue surrounding life-changing thematic material — how should one live a life? What is worth dying for, what is worth living for? The purpose of this performance and the arts in general is to share these major life questions, live and in person, with members of our community.”

For the concert, students from the UVU Department of Dance will perform alongside dancers from the Salt Lake City-based Repertory Dance Theatre.

“The Noorda and the School of the Arts are excited to partner with these amazing companies. It is an incredible engaged-learning opportunity to see these professional dancers in action and a great way to bring two cutting-edge arts groups to Utah County for our community,” Alex Malone, executive director of The Noorda, said in the release.

This is not the first time this year that UVU students have had the opportunity to interact with professional performers. When Joshua Bell, a world-renowned violinist, gave a sold-out performance at the Noorda Center in September, students were invited to participate in a question-and-answer session with him and watch him rehearse.

Next January, UVU School of the Arts students will be able to work with and learn from world-class opera singers as they prepare for the Noorda’s presentation of “La Bohème,” which tells the tale of a love story through opera arias.

This will be the second production of the Noorda Series’ 2021-2022 season after the cancellation of the 2020-2021 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tickets for “A Celebration of Contemporary Dance: Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company and Repertory Dance Theatre in Concert” are available for purchase at uvu.edu/thenoorda. Mask-wearing is encouraged for all in attendance.

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