PHILADANCO Kicks off the Kimmel Center's Movers & Shakers Dance Series with World Premiere of "The Foul" by Robert Moses
October 26, 2006
Artist Chat Will Follow Performance in Perelman Theater on Thursday, November 16, 2006
Philadelphia's most celebrated modern dance company PHILADANCO brings its soaring passion and dynamic energy to the Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater on Thursday-Saturday, November 16-18, 2006 at 7:30pm and Saturday-Sunday, November 18-19 at 2:30pm. This year's PHILADANCO program begins with the company premiere of the dance classic "Dance for Six" choreographed by Joyce Trisler, and includes the world premiere of "The Foul" choreographed by Robert Moses, the Philadelphia premiere of "For Truth" choreographed by Ronald K. Brown, and concludes with "Enemy Behind the Gates" choreographed by Christopher L. Huggins by popular demand.
According to New York Theatre Wire, “PHILADANCO commands the stage. Joan Myers Brown has trained her Philadelphia dancers to attract, and hold, attention.”
An Artist Chat will be held in Perelman Theater following PHILADANCO's Thursday, November 16, 2006 ticketed performance. PHILADANCO dancers, Executive Artistic Director Joan Myers Brown, and Regina Larkin, former member of the Trisler Company, will chat with Mervon Mehta, the Kimmel Center’s Vice President of Programming and Education.
PHILADANCO is the first performance in the Kimmel Center's Dance Series. The next performance in the series is Rennie Harris: Puremovement, 15th Anniversary Retrospective on Friday and Saturday, February 2-3, 2007 at 7:30pm and Sunday, February 4, 2007 at 3pm.
Tickets for PHILADANCO are $46 and $34 and can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center box office, open daily from 10am to 6pm and later on performance evenings. (Additional fees may apply.) For group sales call 215-893-5883.
A limited number of $10 tickets are available for every Kimmel Center Presents performance at the Kimmel Center. Tickets go on sale the day of the event and can be purchased at the Kimmel Center box office beginning 2.5 hours prior to curtain time and 11:30am for matinees. Limit one ticket per person.
For 37 years PHILADANCO has adhered to its mission to present the highest quality of professional dance performance, exceptional training for emerging professional dancers and choreographers, while also increasing the appreciation of dance among its many communities. Since its inception in 1970, PHILADANCO has had a significant impact on the dance world. As a cultural ambassador representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia, its artistic direction and renowned national and international guest choreographers have developed a reputation of producing a dance repertory with passion, power, skill and diversity. Joan Myers Brown, founder of PHILADANCO, has compiled a stellar faculty that has trained over 4,500 dancers in its comprehensive program, and achieved the highest level of technical skills in dance and performance. The unique blend of dance styles of PHILADANCO and its roster of 50-60 concert performances and 45 residencies annually has made them one of the most sought after modern companies in the United States.
In 1986, PHILADANCO was one of only 15 organizations awarded the prestigious National Choreography Planning Grant. It organized the historic first two International Conferences for Black Dance Companies with over 75 representatives convening in Philadelphia. For the past 18 years, more than 600 people have assembled annually for the International Conference on Black Dance; headed by the International Association of Blacks in Dance, which was also founded and now chaired by Joan Myers Brown. In 2000, the company along with eight other cultural organizations received permanent residency at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. In 2006, PHILADANCO has had the pleasure of performing at venues such as Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and The Joyce Theater in New York City. The company recently returned from a rigorous tour schedule in Germany, Luxembourg and Italy. As one of fourteen companies to receive the prestigious American Masterpieces award from the National Endowment for the Arts, PHILADANCO will utilize this grant to remount Talley Beatty's Southern Landscapes.
More importantly, PHILADANCO believes in and continues to provide quality arts instruction to young people with authentic learning experiences that engage their minds, hearts, and bodies. After 37 years, the PHILADANCO building continues to be an oasis in its community and a welcoming refuge for all.
Kimmel Center Presents also offers more than fifty Free at the Kimmel community performances during the 2006/07 5th Anniversary season. These include Free in the Plaza with local artists performing classical, jazz, pop, country, world, dance and family fun on the Commonwealth Plaza stage, as well as Artist Chats with Kimmel Center Presents performers, education events and Organ Postludes in Verizon Hall. An Artist Chat with PHILADANCO dancers, Founder Joan Myers Brown, Regina Larkin, former member of the Trisler Company, and Mervon Mehta, the Kimmel Center's Vice President of Programming will take place on Thursday, November 16, following their ticketed performance. The George Burton Trio performs jazz harmonies on the Commonwealth Plaza Stage on Friday, November 17 at 6:30pm prior to McCoy Tyner Septet and Regina Carter Quintet ticketed performance. And Triple Play brings their classic rock three-part keyboard band to the Commonwealth Plaza Stage on Sunday, November 19, 2006 at 5:30pm, followed by Dennis De Young, The Music of Styx with Rock Symphony ticketed performance. Please check online for additional information and a performance schedule.
Kimmel Center Presents' 2006/2007 season is supported by: Mellon Financial Corporation, University of Pennsylvania Health System, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, ARC Wheeler, The William Penn Foundation, The Presser Foundation, Philadelphia Music Project and Dance Advance, Initiatives of The Pew Charitable Trust administered by The University of the Arts. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Kimmel Center Presents. Toyota is the Official Vehicle of Kimmel Center Presents Jazz and World Pop programming. NBC-10 is a Media Partner for Kimmel Center Presents. The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News, and Philly.com are media sponsors for the Great Orchestras on Tour series.
KIMMEL CENTER PRESENTS
PHILADANCO
Thursday - Saturday, November 16-18 | 7:30pm
Saturday - Sunday, November 18-19 | 2:30pm
Perelman Theater
Featuring: Corey Baker, Erin D. Barnett, Elisabeth H. Bell, Chellamar J. Bernard, Chloe O. Davis, Miguel Edson, Tommie-Waheed Evans, Odara N. Jabali-Nash, Gary W. Jeter, II, Mykal D. Laury, II , A. Maverick Lemons, Teneise Mitchell, Erin N. Moore, Mora-Amina Parker, Devin L. Roberts, Jay Staten, Tracy Vogt
Dance for Six
Company Premiere
Choreographer: Joyce Trisler
Staged by: Regina Larkin
Music: Antonio Vivaldi
Lighting Design: Chenault Spence
Costumes: Joyce Trisler
The Foul
World Premiere
Choreographer: Robert Moses
Poetry & Music: Carl Hancock Rux
Text: E. Ethelbert Miller
Costume Design/Execution: Natasha Guruleva
Lighting Design: Clifton Taylor
-Intermission-
For Truth [excerpt]
Philadelphia Premiere
Choreographer: Ronald K. Brown
Assistants to Mr. Brown: Arcell Cabuag & Tiffany Jackson
Music: MeShell Ndegeocello, Femi Kuti
Costume Design: Carolyn Meckha Cherry
Lighting Design: Clifton Taylor
Lighting Execution: Melody Beal
Enemy Behind the Gates
Company Premiere, 2002
Choreographer: Christopher L. Huggins
Assistant to Mr. Huggins: Kayoko Amemiya
Music: Steve Reich
Costume Design: Christopher L. Huggins
Costume Execution: Natasha Guruleva
Lighting Design: William H. Grant, III
Lighting Execution: Melody Beal
************
FREE AT THE KIMMEL EVENTS
Thursday, November 16, 2006 | Post-Show
Perelman Theater
Artist Chat
PHILADANCO dancers, Founder Joan Myers Brown, Regina Larkin, former member of the Trisler Company, chat with Mervon Mehta, the Kimmel Center's Vice President of Programming, following their ticketed performance in Perelman Theater.
Friday, November 17, 2006 | 6:30 pm
Commonwealth Plaza Stage
George Burton Trio
Listen to the jazz vibrations of George Burton Trio with George Burton on piano, Wayne Smith, Jr. on drums and bassist, tba. Prior to McCoy Tyner Septet and Regina Carter Quintet ticketed performance in Verizon Hall.
Sunday, November 19, 2006 | 5:30pm
Commonwealth Plaza Stage
Triple Play
A unique trio of three Lehigh Valley-based keyboard players, Billy Murnin, Jim Keeler and Tommy Zitto all specialize in classic rock three-part harmony. Prior to Dennis De Young ticketed performance in Verizon Hall.
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