Philadelphia Dance Projects

Each Local Dance History Project program is paired with a Next Up performance, providing a unique look at contemporary dance, past and future. Program I features Local Dance History Project artists Dan Martin and Michael Biello, Ishmael Houston-Jones and Next Up artist Otto Ramstad. The Local Dance History Project offers an informative look at the development of contemporary dance in Philadelphia by showcasing the work of five dance and movement artists who were among the first to explore post modern, improvisation and performance genres in the city during the late 1970s and early 80s. In 1980, dancers Dan Martin and Michael Biello, Jano Cohen, PDP’s Terry Fox, and Ishmael Houston-Jones were featured in Dance & Dancers, a sold-out presentation at the Harold Prince Theater at the Annenberg Center for Performing Arts. Now, in PDP Presents 2010, these five dancers will reunite to revisit and reconstruct their work, which will be performed by young Philadelphia dance artists.

The dance film series Motion Pictures, which in previous years has been presented by Philadelphia Dance Projects as a stand-alone series, will now be offered in conjunction with PDP Presents. Motion Pictures will feature a special screening of Beyond the Mainstream, the rarely seen PBS Great Performances: Dance in America series featuring postmodern, avant-garde dancers from 1980.

Each Local Dance History Project program is paired with a Next Up performance, providing a unique look at contemporary dance, past and future. Program II features Local Dance History Project artists Jano Cohen, Terry Fox and Next Up artist Chris Yon.

The Local Dance History Project offers an informative look at the development of contemporary dance in Philadelphia by showcasing the work of five dance and movement artists who were among the first to explore post modern, improvisation and performance genres in the city during the late 1970s and early 80s. In 1980, dancers Dan Martin and Michael Biello, Jano Cohen, PDP’s Terry Fox, and Ishmael Houston-Jones were featured in Dance & Dancers, a sold-out presentation at the Harold Prince Theater at the Annenberg Center for Performing Arts. Now, in PDP Presents 2010, these five dancers will reunite to revisit and reconstruct their work, which will be performed by young Philadelphia dance artists. Next Up features work by some of the freshest emerging choreographers – Chris Yon and Otto Ramstad, visiting from Minneapolis. Both choreographers represent a younger generation of dance artists who are not only building on the canon of what comprises contemporary dance, but who are widening its definition by asking questions of why we dance, and what roles or purpose dance artists’ work has in the lives of others.

In the spirit of exploring the relationships between generations of dancers, PDP Presents will feature the World Premiere of Red Thread, a collaborative dance made by Lisa Kraus, Eva Karczag and Vicky Shick. A cross-generational piece, Red Thread pairs the trio with emerging Philadelphia-based dancers/choreographers Meg Foley, Gabrielle Revlock and Michele Tantoco.

If you are curious about opening up and communicating about art making, and if you want to practice in a process that will inform your own making of art and your ability to dialogue about creative works, join us for a very special session of The Critical Response Process led by Elizabeth Johnson. This facilitated dialogue workshop is open to participants from all art disciplines. The workshop is FREE and will be held at The Performance Garage from 1-3:30pm. There is limited space and this workshop may fill up fast, so please RSVP if you are planning to attend. To RSVP call (215) 546-2552 or e-mail infophiladanceprojects [dot] org.

Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Process advances the development of artistic works-in-progress through a four-step, facilitated dialogue between artists, peers, and audiences. Developed almost 15 years ago, the Process has been enthusiastically embraced by artists, educators, and administrators at theater companies, dance departments, orchestras, museums and more. The process has opened new awareness and capabilities for deeper dialogue and learning between artists and audiences, teachers and students. Any combination of people who communicate about creative endeavors can benefit from the Critical Response Process. Practice the Process by applying it to real works-in-progress and to grasp its inner workings through a lively series of exercises in this workshop.

Sponsored in conjunction with the Bartol Foundation.