Philadanco hails from the city of brotherly love, one of the nation’s hotbeds of innovative contemporary dance. Fusing ballet, modern, jazz, and ethnic dance, Philadanco is an unabashedly American company whose sizzling energy enjoys international renown. Performing works by today’s most exalted African-American choreographers, including Ronald K. Brown and hip-hop dancemaster Rennie Harris, these “powerful personalities” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) celebrate the possibilities of the human spirit through dance.
November 12–13, 2008 Details TBA
Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS)
$25 registration fee
Philadanco trains its dancers in ballet, jazz, African, and tap using the Horton and Dunham techniques. Join a Philadanco company member for this investigation into the Horton Technique – which emphaisizes a whole body approach including flexibility, strength, and coordination to allow freedom of expression – and the Dunham Technique, which merges polyrhythmic dance styles in continual motion. Open to intermediate dancers.
November 12–13, 2008 Details TBA
Portland Ballet Company
$25 registration fee
In this masterclass especially for dance instructors, participants investigate the technique, repertoire, and genres that inform Philadanco’s signature style. This is an excellent professional development opportunity for dance instructors from all dance genres looking to advance their craft in a peer setting. Open to dance instructors.
Thursday, November 13, 2008 6–7 pm
Merrill Auditorium Green Room
FREE
From a grassroots, community-based performing arts organization to one of America’s foremost dance ensembles today, Philadanco exists as a model for emerging choreographers, dancers, and other dance companies with repertoire that blends African-American, ballet, jazz, and cutting-edge styles. In advance of the 7:30 pm performance, join Joan Meyers Brown, founder and artistic director of Philadanco, for an overview of the evening’s program and the company’s commitment to honoring the spirit of African-American dance.
“Filled with sleek, propulsive movement and emotional undercurrent.” New York Times
