The Hylton Performing Arts Center was pleased to welcome the widely acclaimed Philadelphia Dance Company, PHILADANCO! as a spring 2024 Artist-in-Residence. With its artistic integrity and superbly trained dancers, PHILADANCO! worked with the community through classes and workshops surrounding their Hylton Center debut performance in March.
Formed in 1970 by Joan Myers Brown, a barrier-breaking African American ballet dancer, PHILADANCO! launched to provide artistic opportunities for Black dancers who were denied membership in local dance schools. In the company’s Hylton Center debut, PHILADANCO!’s “impressively skilled dancers” (New York Times) performed From Dystopia to Our Declaration,
choreographed by Nijawwon K. Matthews; Ephrat Asherie’s out-side-in, an exuberant, theatrical version of breaking and house dancing; Ray Mercer’s This Place, a festive and technically challenging work set to Bongi Duma’s music; and Anthony Burrell’s Conglomerate, which he calls “a rich history of Black Dance in Philadelphia.”
“PHILADANCO! is well known for its commitment to education. This was clear during their time with us as they worked with a wide range of community members from first-grade students, high school and college-aged dancers, to lifelong learners. PHILADANCO! brought such energy and joy to our community during their week with us, and we thoroughly enjoyed working with them,” said Hylton Center Education Coordinator, Marit Majeske.
The artists participated in the following engagement activities while visiting the community:
- Lifelong Learning Institute of Manassas (LLI) Lecture Demonstration
PHILADANCO! company members led an interactive class about the history of the company, along with a discussion of the repertoire that was a part of their Hylton Presents performance on March 15. The class also included multiple opportunities for attendees to participate in company member-led movement combinations.
- Masterclasses with George Mason University School of Dance; Colgan High School Center for Fine and Performing Arts; and Dance Institute of Washington
PHILADANCO! company members led Horton Technique classes for dancers.
- Visit to Hunters Woods Elementary School
First-grade students from Hunters Woods Elementary School in Reston, VA participated in an interactive movement session and watched company members perform a few excerpts from their repertoire. Students also had the opportunity to ask questions of the artists.
- Conversation with the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce
PHILADANCO! founder and Artistic Advisor Joan Myers Brown participated in a moderated conversation about the history of PHILADANCO! and her journey as a dancer and company leader. This conversation was moderated by Mason Dance faculty member Lawrence M. Jackson.
- George Mason University Arts Management Program Class Visit
Students in an Arts Management Seminar class participated in a discussion about the history of PHILADANCO!, the current work of the company, and the state of the performing arts field with founder and Artistic Advisor Joan Myers Brown.
Lastly, prior to the group’s mainstage Hylton Presents performance on March 15, an engaging pre-performance discussion with PHILADANCO! Artistic Director Kim Y. Bears-Bailey and Rehearsal Director Tracy Vogt was moderated by Mason School of Dance Professor Lawrence M. Jackson.
Learn more about the Hylton Center's Artist-in Residence program and how these residencies create spaces for transformational experiences to happen.
This engagement of PHILADANCO! was made possible through the support of the Hylton Center Education Initiative’s lead sponsor: Amazon Web Services, and other Education Initiative sponsors.