Carifesta XV | Barbados
2025-08-25 08:00 - 2025-08-31 17:00 (America/New_York)
PHILADANCO will be performing in Barbados at the Carifesta XV.
Dance at CARIFESTA XV is a powerful expression of Caribbean identity, bridging past, present, and future through movement. Rooted in tradition yet boldly experimental, the programme features a rich lineup of performances, workshops, labs, and immersive activations designed to engage audiences and artists alike.
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Highlights include collaborative residencies that foster artistic risk-taking, cultural exchange, and new choreographic development; community-centred mobile performances that bring the rhythm of the festival into everyday spaces; and celebratory showcases for emerging youth talent. Signature events will explore environmental themes, ancestral memory, innovation, and intergenerational dialogue. Audiences can also look forward to live dance challenges, beachside
performances, and symposiums that elevate dancers as thought leaders and visionaries.
This dynamic programme invites participants to not only witness the evolution of Caribbean dance but to become a part of it-on the stage, in the street, and on the sand.

DANCO ON DANCO 2025
2025-09-12 19:00 - 2025-09-13 20:30 | PHILADANCO!, 9 N. Preston Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
PHILADANCO’s Annual Choreography Concert
September 12, 2024 at 7:00pm
September 13, 2024 at 7:00pm
Enjoy the opportunity to witness original works by PHILADANCO Company Members, Second Company Members and Administration!

FREE Philadelphia Fall Arts Fest
2025-09-13 11:00 - 15:00
Join us as we launch our 2025/2026 season with an exciting celebration!
Experience a vibrant array of live performances and engaging activities, showcasing highlights from our prestigious Resident Companies and regional arts and cultural organizations. Plus, expect fantastic ticket deals, giveaways, and venue tours!
Confirmed performances include highlights from our 2025/2026 Broadway season, Philadelphia Orchestra Quartet, Philadelphia Ballet, Opera Philadelphia, BalletX, Philadanco!, The Independence Awards, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, The Philly Pops, and more! *
Plus, 50% off ticket deals to 50+ season performances, including Broadway’s Kimberly Akimbo, Suffs, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Whitney Cummings, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Peppa Pig: My First Concert, and more!*
More fun is on the way—stay tuned for the full lineup of activities, performances, and food and drink specials!
*Schedule and sale offerings subject to change.
*50% off tickets available in person only.
Saturday, Sept 13 | 11AM–3PM
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

Passing The Baton! A Legacy Conversation
2025-11-02 16:00 - 19:00
Join us for Passing the Baton: A Conversation with Three Legacy Builders & Their Legacy Children — an inspiring evening celebrating leadership, heritage, and the power of generational impact. Don’t miss this dynamic discussion featuring Joan Myers Brown, Dyana Williams, and Oshunbumi Fernandez West, alongside their legacy children, as they share insights on continuing their extraordinary work for future generations.
🗓️ Sunday, November 2, 2025📍 Loft17venue | Wyncote, PA🎤 Moderated by Patty Jackson, WDAS FM & iHeart Media
VIP Reception: 4–5 PM | Panel Discussion: 5–7 PM🎟️ Tickets: VIP $50 | General Admission $25

The Joanies 2025
2025-11-16 15:00 - 18:00
The Joanie Awards are named in honor of Joan Myers Brown
and recognize individuals and organizations that create, support, and advance dance in keeping with JB’s tireless and innovative spirit.
Board members, PHILADANCO! company members and staff, and supporters will join awardees and their family and friends to celebrate the Joanie Awardees.
There will also be performances by D3, D2 and PHILADANCO!
More info on our honorees will be announced soon!

Giving Tuesday!
2025-12-05 19:00 - 2025-12-07 14:00
Support PHILADANCO! this #GivingTuesday
Today is a global day of generosity, and we’re inviting you to stand with us. We’ve just returned from an incredible 13-city European tour and are gearing up for our upcoming performances at Ensemble Arts Philly, Dec 5–7.
With arts funding being cut nationwide, your support means more than ever. If you’re able, please consider donating to PHILADANCO! 💜

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=S37UXYMVK5B4E

For The Love Of Philly!
2026-12-04 07:00 - 2026-12-06 14:00
PHILADANCO! and Philadelphia International Records are coming together for a powerful project celebrating Philadelphia’s artistic soul, cultural memory, and enduring global influence. For the Love of Philly is an electrifying collaboration that honors the city’s unparalleled contributions to music, dance, and Black cultural innovation through a dynamic fusion of movement and sound.
Set to the iconic music of Philadelphia International Records featuring legendary voices that includes Patti LaBelle, Teddy Pendergrass, The O’Jays, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, and more, the evening features world premiere works by Rennie Harris and Dawn Marie Bazemore alongside returning works by Gene Hill Sagan and Tommie-Waheed Evans, as well as a reimagined classic by Dwight Rhoden. Together, these choreographic voices create an evening rooted in rhythm, resilience, sensuality, social consciousness, and communal joy.
At its heart, For the Love of Philly is a tribute to the visionaries who transformed Philadelphia into a global cultural force. The production honors the extraordinary legacies of Joan Myers Brown, founder and artistic advisor of PHILADANCO!, and Philadelphia International Records founders Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, and Thom Bell. Through dance and music, the evening celebrates how these pioneering artists reshaped the cultural landscape, amplified Black artistry on the world stage, and created enduring models of excellence, innovation, and community empowerment.
Extending far beyond the stage, For the Love of Philly begins the moment audiences enter the theater through a fully immersive lobby installation experience. Designed to “set the stage” for the evening, the installation invites attendees to explore the rich histories and lasting impact of both PHILADANCO! and Philadelphia International Records (TSOP) through archival photography, audio and video stations, historical artifacts, award reproductions, and interactive reflection spaces. Audience members will be invited to engage with stories, memories, and personal responses, transforming the theater into a living celebration of Philadelphia’s creative lineage and cultural power.
For the Love of Philly is more than a performance. It is a love letter to a city. A celebration of artistry, heritage, and Black cultural excellence. A reminder that Philadelphia has long been and continues to be a heartbeat of American culture.

Choreographers telling Philadelphia Stories

World Premieres

Rennie Harris
A new creation by Rennie Harris, set to The O’Jays’ landmark recording Message in Our Music, explores the power of collective voice, community, and cultural memory. Drawing inspiration from themes of unity, resilience, and social consciousness, Harris transforms the stage into a dynamic reflection of Philadelphia’s spirit, blending his celebrated movement language with the enduring message of one of the city’s most influential musical legacies.

Dawn Marie Bazemore
In a new work inspired by When Will I See You Again and other beloved Philadelphia soul classics, Dawn Marie Bazemore creates a heartfelt tribute to Joan Myers Brown. Incorporating Brown’s voice through original interviews woven into the score, the work reflects on mentorship, perseverance, and artistic lineage while celebrating a visionary whose influence continues to shape generations of dancers and cultural leaders.

Returning

Gene Hill Sagan
A returning audience favorite, Gene Hill Sagan’s Sweet Agony is set to the soulful sounds of Philadelphia native Teddy Pendergrass. Rich with passion, vulnerability, and romance, the work highlights Sagan’s signature blend of ballet, modern, and jazz influences through sweeping movement and expressive partnering. Decades after its creation, Sweet Agony remains a timeless celebration of love, musicality, and emotional depth.

Tommie-Waheed Evans
Also returning is Promise Me You Won’t Call by Tommie-Waheed Evans, a haunting and visually striking meditation on love, loss, and release. Set to a deconstructed soundscape inspired by the voice of Patti LaBelle, the work moves between longing and acceptance, creating an immersive world where memory, ritual, and transformation intersect. Through evocative imagery and a distinctive choreographic vision, Evans invites audiences into a deeply human journey of letting go.

Reimagined

Dwight Rhoden
A reimagined revival of Dwight Rhoden’s Tribute brings renewed energy to a work inspired by the iconic sound of Philadelphia International Records. Set to music by The O’Jays, Billy Paul, and Teddy Pendergrass, the ballet pulses with the rhythm, confidence, and sophistication that made Philadelphia a global center of Black musical innovation. Through Rhoden’s bold and athletic choreography, Tribute celebrates the artistry, ambition, and cultural impact of a sound that continues to resonate across generations.

Celebrating Joan Myers Browns 95th Birthday

To reserve your Birthday Package tickets,
please call PHILADANCO!
215 – 387 – 8200

Opening Night will hold special significance as audiences gather to celebrate Joan Myers Brown’s 95th birthday, honoring more than six decades of visionary leadership, artistic excellence, and unwavering commitment to the advancement of Black dance.
As the founder of PHILADANCO! and one of the most influential figures in American concert dance, Brown has shaped generations of artists, expanded opportunities for dancers of color, and helped redefine the cultural landscape both nationally and internationally. This special celebration recognizes her extraordinary legacy, her enduring impact on countless artists and audiences around the world, and her continued role as a guiding force whose vision continues to inspire the future of dance.
