By JA'NET RIDGELL

Dance will collide with poetry, music and drama this Friday and Saturday night, when "Two Near the Edge," a Durham-based modern dance duo, opens the fall dance season at Reynolds Theater.

"Two Near the Edge" is dancers/choreographers L.D. Burris and Carol Childs. They have been praised nationally for their unique style and their propensity to explore the new and exotic. Their performance promises to visually delight and challenge the mind.

The two have choreographed much of the material in their repertoire. In the past, some of the choreography has included such rarities as parts for two dancers and two wheelchairs.

Although the duo primarily uses dance, their performances generally include many aspects of theater. They always tell a story, relay a certain emotion or make a political statement. Their upcoming appearance also will showcase the talents of several musicians, emphasizing the musical aspect of the performance. As always, the dance techniques of "Two Near the Edge" will be visual interpretations of the music's emotion.

Their performance at Reynolds will feature "Dream Variations," a dance performed to live music played by guest musicians, the Mallarme Chamber Players. This work also includes readings of poetry by Langston Hughes.

In addition to the Mallarme Chamber Players, the duo's performance will draw on the talents of two other artists; violinist Scott Ainslie and dancer Rebecca Hutchins, who has worked with many other North Carolina dance companies and choreographers, will be featured in a new stage version of a piece called "Looking Up...Things Could be Worse."

Ainslie will join Childs and Burris again with his own original score in a new work choreographed by the duo. The company will also showcase an older story-telling dramatic work, "Escape from the Garden," in the program.

In addition to exhibiting their talents on the stage, both members of the company purvey their artistic knowledge in the classroom. Childs teaches jazz, modern dance, and dance composition as an assistant professor of dance here at the University. Burris also teaches modern dance and African dance independently.

Without any doubt, "Two Near the Edge" are on the forefront of modern dance. Catch the talented couple at Reynolds Theater this Friday and Saturday, Sept. 8-9 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the door, $12 general admission, $8 for students and senior citizens.