Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson need no introduction to dance fans. They are veterans of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the most popular companies in the world.

But it's as artistic directors of their own company, Complexions, that Rhoden and Richardson continue to explore the possibilities of movement, earning praise for work that has been called as imaginative as it is energetic.

The New York-based company, which kicks off Dance St. Louis' season Friday at the Touhill Performing Arts Center, has cause for celebration.

"We started the company back in 1994, and here we are, 15 years later," Rhoden said recently.

"The dancers are all classically trained, but the movement that we do is very contemporary. In some pieces, the girls are en pointe (in toe shoes). In other pieces, the men and the women are barefoot, or in other types of shoes."

Some of the pieces emphasize classical ballet tradition; others come across as "modern and grounded," he said.

The company's ability to connect with folks who don't necessarily follow dance is not in question. Last summer, Complexions was featured on the television series "So You Think You Can Dance."

Rhoden, who no longer dances, creates most of the choreography for the company; Richardson continues to dance and choreographs. The company is named for "the nature of the work, which is a variety of colors, qualities and textures under one roof," Rhoden said.

"The name just came to us. The underlying mission of Complexions is to bring together things which are seemingly different, and watch them coexist in a harmonious way."

The company was inspired by, and owes its existence to, a 1994 dance concert that Rhoden and Richardson organized in New York.

"Everybody was so inspired," Rhoden said. "You had dancers who were from a very modern background, you had classical dancers, you had some dancers who didn't even really have a whole lot of formal training but were amazing movers — all in one room.

"Once we put the show up, we looked at each other and said, 'There's something really special here. Let's do something with this.'"

Although Complexions shares much of the populist spirit of the Ailey company, audiences shouldn't expect a clone, Rhoden said.

"You will definitely see similarities, but you'll see more differences than similarities," he said. "Anything you've ever been a part of is always a part of you. But Complexions has its own identity. My work has been the linchpin for who the company is.

"I still believe that dance can, and should be, entertaining on some level. There are some pieces that take a little bit more to understand. But the dancers tend to be able to relate to the audience."

At the Touhill, the program will include "Hissy Fits," to the music of J.S. Bach; "A Complexions Sampler" that includes the premiere of "Mirror Me" among its five short, musically varied pieces (from Prince to avant-gardist Zoe Keating); and "Rise," to the music of the iconoclastic rock band, U2.

"I love U2's music," Rhoden said. "The songs are like anthems, and very familiar to people. And I wanted to bring visuals to U2's music that maybe had not been done before."

Through its sheer eclecticism, the program should give audiences a sense of what Complexions is all about, Rhoden said.

"The program that we're doing in St. Louis doesn't necessarily have a narrative to it," he said. "It's more about the essence and feeling of each work, and the interpretation of the music.

"So in a lot of ways, I think it is challenging for audiences to walk away with exactly what the choreographer was going for. But I don't think that you have to have words to really understand something."