Philadelphia Dance Projects

Thanks, Amalia Colon-Nava, for PDP Informance last night. Sometimes audience comments are poetic like these from Lisa Kraus: "Hand and Foot" video Squishy feet... squishy mud squishy delicious Colorful colors, red juicy pokeberries Child feelings. My world my grass my feet my oyster Playing on stones in wet in soft in silky in color Popping OUT of all the sensing - leaving - where to? On "PITH" video: The best graffiti palace - such long lines of columns one after another decorated to the hilt The backs, the dancers sway swivel Rite Rite of arrving of gathering of finding sinuous slithery spines Rite of midsummer of vanishing of popping out into tall grass How to be exposed and protected at the same time

PDP concludes the Fall Informances series with dance artist AMALIA COLON-NAVA Wednesday, December 2 at 7PM In her presentation, "Taking advantage of the vantag...e point: two films," Amalia Colon-Nava will show and discuss two spirited and prepossessing films whose subjects are different parts of the body. By taking advantage of the vantage points available with a camera, the screendances give very specific body parts a chance at center stage. Join the conversation FREE or pay what you will. RSVP for zoom link: [email protected] More info: www.philadanceprojects.org

Thank You, Christopher Williams, and Thank You,audience, for a wonderful PDP Informance presentation and conversation last evening. Williams gave a short historical background on several Ballet Russe works he is reinterpreting with a beautiful queer sensibility, one that is daring and valorous.

Cemiyon Barber, dancing the role of Narcissus’s reflection in choreography by CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS. Join us Wednesday Nov. 11 at 7PM for a PDP Informance on ...Zoom. In his Informance, "Following in the Footsteps of Nijinsky," Christopher Williams will discuss an ongoing project of his to reimagine an array of beloved works from the Ballets Russes era in his own contemporary queer idiom. Participants will get a glimpse of choreography, designs, and concepts for works-in-progress. FREE or pay what you wish... RSVP: [email protected] - for zoom link. www.philadanceprojects.org See more

PDP’s online Informances continue with DR. LYNN MATLUCK BROOKS "Philadelphia: United States Dance City" This Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 7PM... FREE or pay what you wish RSVP: [email protected] for link.... In her illustrated Informance, Philadelphia: United States Dance City, Dr. Lynn Matluck Brooks will focus on how professional theatrical dancing in the early United States started herein Philadelphialaying a foundation that has sustained Philadelphia’s dance scene and establishing ground on which dance in America has continued to build. An overlooked history, but a true one, it’s time to right the narrative that there was no real stage-dance art in this nation until well into the twentieth century, and that New York was where it all began. In fact, theatrical dancing was unfolding just as the new nation’s political forms were taking shape, endeavors in which Philadelphia played leading roles. www.philadanceprojects.org

Thank you everyone for attending a PDP Informance with Tommie-Waheed Evans. "Distilling what really needs to be said." Thanks to Waheed Works dancers for sharing their beautiful dancing, too. A real insight and a treat.

Lovely preview in BSR for next week's PDP Informance with Tommie-Waheed Evans. Thanks, Camille Bacon-Smith.

Join us for real time interaction in PDP’s upcoming Informance with Tommie-Waheed Evans Wed. Oct. 14 at 7PM FREE or pay what you will. RSVP [email protected]... Evans will discuss his new choreographic project HOME. Evans describes HOME, as a meta-narrative choreographic work that is centered on liberation and about being black and brown, openly becoming, being visible, and being included through a complex and socially charged spectrum of gender. His dance practice is grounded in African-American culture, history, traditions, and spirituality. He says of this work that it aspires to transform the ways in which we experience and understand the world. In the PDP Informance audiences will get a peek into a live rehearsal in progress and view other rehearsal videos of new material the company has been working on before the pandemic

PDP's part of Philly's robust virtual dance season.... Informance w/Tommie-Waheed Evans October 14.... https://www.inquirer.com//balletx-philadelphia-dance-fall-

Huge THANKS to MEGAN MAZARICK and audience for a wonderful PDP Zoom Informance last night. Megan discussed the current heightened existential crisis we are in, ...in terms of her new work Portal Perspective. She showed videos of rehearsals and performed live.(!) The work premieres Fri and Sat at FringeArts, https://fringearts.com/event/portal-perspective/ Next PDP Zoom Informance is October 14 with Tommie-Waheed Evans. More info at www.philadanceprojects.org See more

This week PDP's first "Informance" on zoom with MEGAN MAZARICK... Please join us Wed. Sept 9 at 7PM RSVP for link: [email protected] For more info: www.philadanceprojects.org

PDP Informances on Zoom Dance Series September thru December Mid-Week-Wednesdays at 7PM Join us for conversation with MEGAN MAZARICK... Wednesday, September 9 at 7PM. RSVP [email protected] MEGAN MAZARICK will discuss her new work portal perspective, a post-modern dance cabaret that grapples with pandemic experiences through movement, text, and video projection. Directed by Megan Mazarick and created in collaboration with Danielle Currica and Jess Conda with Video projection design by Les Rivera. It will have its premiere Sept 14 and 15 as part of FringeArts festival. Mazarick says, I am interested in finding new methods for creating live performance during this pandemic and using the limitations to inform the work. This portal is a window to different vantage points and an entrance to imagined worlds and futures. If you saw her recent work in PDP’s DANCE UP CLOSE this past February, you have experienced her riveting performance style ...Mazarick is clearly an engaging and original artistic force on the Philly dance scene." Dance Journal 2020

PDP Presents INFORMANCES on Zoom COMING Fall 2020, a new series September thru December Mid-Week-Wednesdays at 7PM Join us for real time interaction with three choreographers, a scholar and a filmmaker. ... In this year of pandemic the definition of zoom has been irrevocably changed. Now most of us are spending time on the internet with that brand name,and PDP’s signature presentation of Informances will go zooming, too! The camera definition of taking a long shot to a close-up most aptly applies to our new online series in which our signature presentation of Informances will give inquisitive audience members access to focus in on what dance people are doing, researching and creating. Not just talking heads, but video excerpts, visuals and short dance films will be featured. The diverse roster of accomplished presenters includes: Megan Mazarick, Choreographer September 9 Tommie-Waheed Evans, Choreographer October 14 Lynn Matluck-Brooks, Historian October 28 Christopher Williams, Choreographer November 11 Amalia Colon-Nava, Choreographer/videographer December 2 More info coming soon.. Photo: Megan Mazarick Photo credit: Jano Cohen

https://www.nytimes.com//safety-protocols-dance-coronaviru

Most of the testimony I heard yesterday at the public budget hearings (while waiting 2 hours to give 2 minutes...) was pleading for a more equitable budget, including the arts and the PCF and not so much tax dollars to the police....

Very productive Philly Dance Community Meeting today. So good to see everyone. Thank you. Maybe this is a first in sifting through our concerns to actions.... more to follow.

PDP bus shelter ad 2010....