About Us

In the fall of 2003, choreographer David Justin and composer/conductor Rob Deemer were introduced and began working together both as artistic collaborators on a theatrical project and as organizers of a large-scale arts festival at The University of Texas at Austin. By the spring of 2004, they were working on their first large-scale collaboration, the ballet Adverse Camber that was premiered at the festival in May of 2005. Over the summer of 2005, Rob and David laid the groundwork for what was to become American Repertory Ensemble.

The ensemble's core is built upon a foundation of well-known, professional-caliber dancers and musicians from the Austin community. To augment this core group, virtuoso artists are then invited from around the country to learn works created by David and Rob as well as upcoming and established composers and choreographers. Concerts are programmed to highlight the inherent contrasts and similarities between dance with pre-recorded music, chamber music by itself, and the culmination of dance and live music on the stage together.

By focusing on the convergence and interplay of these two related but independent art forms, ARE is at once strong in its artistic vision yet malleable enough for any venue. Please explore who we are and join in supporting what we can become.

"Classical musicians may often play for dancers, and dancers perform with classical musicians, but when it comes to organizations, they typically go their separate ways. Symphony and chamber groups here, ballet and dance troupes there, and never the twain shall meet. Well, not so with the newly formed American Repertory Ensemble. Figuring dance and music to be two great tastes that taste great together, the folks behind ARE are out to bring those art forms together in an organizational peanut-butter cup." – Robert Faires, The Austin Chronicle