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Wearing masks glowing from black lights and gripping arcade-shooting targets in bright orange gloves, Brad Beakes and Mary Lynn Graves elastically bounce up from behind a half-curtain dividing the stage and drop down again. Eight more dancers crouch behind the curtain waiting to duplicate a sequence of moves charted 38 years ago by dance pioneer Alwin Nikolais.

"The heads have to come higher and no arms on the jumps," Alberto del Saz, co-director of the Nikolais/Louis Foundation for Dance, coaches the dancers, his arms postured tightly across his chest.

Del Saz was in rehearsal last week preparing the Ririe-Woodbury dancers for the Alwin Nikolais Celebration tour over the next few weeks to Avon, Colo., back to the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City, followed by eight shows in six days at the Joyce Theater in New York City.

Utah dance patrons are likely familiar with Nikolais' historic, multimedia work due to his legacy that includes his personal support for Shirley Ririe and Joan Woodbury when founding their contemporary dance company in 1964.

Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company is offering two very different bills in Salt Lake City this weekend: evening performances aimed at mature audiences starting Friday and a one-hour matinee Saturday specifically for children.

"We really wanted to expand the concept of the family matinee," said Ai Fujii Nelson, RW's education director. "We created a parent committee and conducted electronic parent surveys."

Nelson said they found some surprising concerns, ranging from a lack of diaper changing areas to opinions on nursing babies. The surveys help decide on pre-show snacks, positioning a pre-show dance specialist in the lobby, and most important, to welcome wiggly and sometimes noisy babies to the family show.

Executive director Jena Woodbury says the same family-friendly rules apply to matinees in touring cities, reserving the serious tone Nikolais intended for much of his work for adults.

"We take on tour 10 dancers, two techs, our artistic director and company manager along with 20 trunks containing costumes, lighting and set pieces," Woodbury said. "So yes, touring this work is serious business but it's also really fun."

Artistic director Daniel Charon says he thinks "it is important that a new generation experience the work of this American master choreographer" in a live performance rather than on a screen. Charon said revisiting Nikolais' work reminds him of the importance of form and structure in his own choreography.

"It's exciting to see the creativity and personal investment Nik's work inspires in all of us," Charon said. "I am absolutely fascinated by it." —

'ILLUSIONS'

Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company and Nikolais Dance Theatre present "ILLUSIONS," showcasing the works of Alwin Nikolais, one of the most influential American choreographers of the 20th century whose multimedia dances continue to inspire performance artists such as the Blue Man Group and Cirque du Soleil. The evening performances includes some of Nikolais' most provocative works, "Crucible," "Tensile Involvement," "Gallery" and "Mechanical Organ." The condensed Family Matinee is designed for children of all ages.

When • Friday and Saturday, Jan. 29-30, 7:30 p.m.

Where • Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City

Tickets • $15-$40; artsaltlake.org or 801-355-ARTS (2787)

Family Matinee

When • Saturday, Jan. 30, 2 p.m.

Tickets • $10; a $45 family pass includes 5 tickets that can be mixed and matched in any combination of children/adults.

Details • The matinee includes a pre-reception at 1 p.m. with snacks, and a post-performance photo opportunity with the dancers.