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 The Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO)
is celebrating 37 years of providing exceptional dance performances and training
to its many communities throughout the US and abroad.
The
original mission of the Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO), “to
present the highest quality of professional dance performance, and to provide
exceptional training for the improvement of skills for emerging professional
dancers and choreographers in a nurturing environment while increasing the
appreciation of dance among its many communities” has withstood time, budget
cuts and the passage of 37 years.
Since its inception in 1970 The Philadelphia Dance
Company (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. Over the 37 years, a stellar faculty
(hand picked by Joan Myers Brown, Founder of PHILADANCO) has trained over
4,500 dancers in a comprehensive program achieving 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.
Developing and piloting new programs and initiatives is nothing
new to
Philadanco. In 2000, the company along with
eight other cultural organizations received permanent residency at The Kimmel
Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. Performances to date have been
sold-out to date and audiences eagerly anticipate our Fall and Spring Concert
Series each year.
In 1981 the company was one of only 15 organizations
awarded the prestigious National Choreography Planning Grant. We 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. This year, PHILADANCO
had the pleasure of performing at venues such as Kennedy Center in Washington,
DC and The Joyce Theater in New York City and has just returned from a
noteworthy tour, spending the entire month of March 2006 in Germany, Luxembourg
and Italy.
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. And after 37
years, the PHILADANCO building continues to be an oasis in its community
and a welcoming refuge for all since the neighbors feel good about it too.
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Joan
Myers Brown, Executive/Artistic
Director
Often called an innovator and communicator, Joan Myers Brown is
listed in Who’s Who in America, Delaware Valley and as a powerhouse
“Philadelphia leader.”
Ms.
Brown is the founder of The Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO)
and The Philadelphia School of Dance Arts. She serves as honorary chairperson
for the International Association of Blacks in Dance, an organization she
established in 1991. She is also founder of the International Conference of
Black Dance Companies. She is a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the
University of the Arts, which bestowed upon her an honorary Doctorate of Fine
Arts, and is a member of the dance faculty at Howard University in Washington,
DC. Listed in Who’s Who in America and described as an “innovator and
communicator,” Ms. Brown has made significant contributions to the national and
international arts communities.
 Joan
Myers Brown has served a broad range of regional and national organizations,
including NEFA’s National Dance Project, the United States Information Agency,
Arts America, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Arts Councils of
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan, Nevada, and Ohio and the National Forum for
Female Executives. Locally, she has been a part of the Greater Philadelphia
Cultural Alliance, the Minority Arts Resource Council, the Philadelphia Mayor’s
cultural Advisory Council, the Philadelphia Dance Alliance, The Women’s Heritage
Society, Dance/USA and the Coalition of African American Cultural Organizations,
which she served as vice president.
Ms.
Brown’s expertise and counsel have been sought by many organizations, including
the Rockefeller Foundation’s Arts & Humanities Program. She served as a trustee
of the Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation and the Media Performing Arts Center.
Ms. Brown is currently a member of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Arts &
Business Council, World Dance Alliance Americas, University City Board of
Directors, and other non-profit organizations.
She
has convened three International Conferences of Black Dance Companies,
facilitated the Smithsonian Institution’s Conference of Black Dance Companies
and served as a consultant to East Coast Committee of Festival 2000, the San
Francisco Bay Area Cultural Initiative, the NEA “Dance on Tour” ad hoc committee
and the Kennedy Center Adult Education Task Force.
Ms.
Brown was honored as one of the “Dance Women; Living Legends” during a four-day
series sponsored by New York area presenters, in tribute to five
African-American pioneer women who founded distinguished modern dance companies
with deep roots in black communities around the country. She was also honored
by Kennedy Center for African American Choreography.
The
success of her seemingly unending energy has been appreciated and recognized by
the numerous requests for her keen input from such notable organizations as
Pennsylvania State Council of the Arts, Ohio State Arts Council, New Jersey
State Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, National Association for
Female Executives, Port of History Museum (Ad Hoc Committee), Media Associates
(Washington, DC), Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, Wade Communications,
Spruce Family Planning, Minority Arts Resource Council, West Philadelphia
Chamber of Commerce, Mayor’s Cultural Advisory Council, Advisory Panel for SPVI,
Expansion Arts Program, Executive Council of the Philadelphia Dance Alliance,
Arts Administration for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Women’s heritage
Society, Painted Bride and Dance/USA.
In
addition, Ms. Brown has served as a consultant to many national cultural
organizations, and was appointed to the choreographer’s panel of the Rockefeller
Foundation Arts & Humanities Program; and served as vice president (and
co-founder) to the Coalition of Afro-American Cultural Organizations.
Ms.
Brown’s efforts on behalf of dance excellence belie a much larger contribution
to the arts and the community. She remains a tireless advocate and spokesperson
and is a model of tenacity, hope and discipline. She is the proud mother of
daughters Marlisa and Dannielle, who teach at her school, The Philadelphia
School of Dance Arts and grandmother of Jade Greene, Amari Noelle Brown-Swint
and Joan Joelle Brown.
It
must be emphasized that Joan Myers Brown’s efforts for dance excellence are only
part of her contribution to society and Philadelphia in particular. She speaks
out, talks back and shows up.
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Lecture/Demonstration
Running
Time: 45 minutes -1 hour (as needed)
Space
Required: Auditorium, Gym, Community Room (heated in winter months)
A
Wood Floor or Dance Floor (Marley) must be provided - not over tile or cement,
and two (2) Dressing Rooms - one for male dancers and one for female dancers.
Note:
Teachers’ Guide Available upon request.
Suitable
for grade levels Kindergarten through college and/or community members.
Utilizing from 8-10 dancers, this program gives an introduction to dance,
history of PHILADANCO, demonstrations of choreography and dance steps and
audience participation. The program concludes with excerpts from the current
repertoire and a question and answer period with the dancers.
Classes/
Master Classes
Running
Time: 1 hour - 90 minutes (depending on group size/level)
Space
Required: Capacity for 30 persons maximum and 2 Instructors
{Or 2
groups approx. 20/group - 2 Instructors).
Floor:
A good smooth and clean surface, preferably wood – NOT CEMENT
A
CD/tape player or live accompanist is also required.
PHILADANCO
offers classes that range from beginners to advanced level. Classes are taught
in Ballet, Modern (Horton and Graham), Jazz and the Dunham Techniques. For the
more beginning levels, the class will increase the student's awareness and
understanding of dance. Students participate in warm-up exercises, foot and body
positions, and basic movements. An interest to the particular age group is
given. Classes are offered to both students and adults. For the more advanced
student, sections of current repertoire are taught.
Career
Conferences
Running
Time: 1 hour
Space
Needed: Classroom, Lecture Hall
PHILADANCO'S
Artistic and Administrative Staff are available to speak on the professional
life of a dancer, dancers in transition, and the administrative side of running
a professional dance company. The conference may also include discussion about
problems one may face as a professional artist or arts administrator. In
addition, the facilitator may cover other related theatrical professions:
choreography, lighting design, costuming, etc. Visual aids, such as videotapes,
costumes, posters and pictures are used during the presentation.
Peer
to Peer Conferences
Running
Time: 1 hour
Space
Needed: Classroom, Auditorium, Conference Room
PHILADANCO'S
dancers present an informal discussion with dance students who are pursuing a
professional career in the field. The company members relate their personal
career experiences along with a look into the “nuts and bolts” of becoming a
professional dancer. The facilitators may be a mixed group or all male.
Teachers
Workshop
Running
time: 2.5-3 hours Number of participants: 15-30
This
class will combine a lecture format with a movement class. During the first
half, Joan Myers Brown, Executive/Artistic Director of PHILADANCO, will discuss
what it takes to maintain an arts organization in times of reduced funding. An
overview will be given of Ms. Brown’s past thirty-five years as PHILADANCO’s
driving force and some of the choices she made to keep her vision on the road to
success. In the second portion of this class, a member of the Company will
introduce teachers to movements that can be done in places other than the dance
class setting. It will begin with warm-ups and isolations and move on to simple
movements. This workshop illustrates what goes into maintaining a successful
African American modern dance company, and presents teachers with background
information on PHILADANCO. It also gives participants an opportunity to do
simple movement with music that shows them new ways to relate to all kinds of
music, and techniques to work with their students using timing and rhythm.
Open
Rehearsals
Running
Time: 1-2 hours
Space
Required: Theater seating
(number
of participants will be determined by the space available)
A
group may visit and observe PHILADANCO at the performance venue during a
rehearsal. These rehearsals give a glimpse of the company in a less formal
setting. Visitors gain a deeper appreciation of the final product of a
performance when they see the process.
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Please
contact
Baylin Artists for technical information.
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