Philadanco Delivers Diverse program of Expressive Dance

Media Contact:

Kristen Gleason
Director of Marketing
The Paramount Theater
215 East Main Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
434.979.1922 ext. 103
kristen@theparamount.net

For Immediate Release

January 9, 2008

Celebrating 38 years of exceptional performances, The Philadelphia Dance Company (Philadanco) is internationally-acclaimed for innovative choreography and expressive dancing that blends African-American based movement with ballet, jazz, and modern styles.

With "blazing physicality and commitment [that] light up the stage" (The Village Voice) Philadanco presents an exciting mixed repertory program at The Paramount Theater on Thursday, January 17 at 8 pm.

This tour engagement of The Philadelphia Dance Company is funded through the American Masterpieces programs of Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius, a major initiative to acquaint Americans with the best of their cultural and artistic legacy.  This project is partially supported by a grant from Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, a program developed and funded by The Heinz Endowments; the William Penn Foundation; the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency; and The Pew Charitable Trusts; and administered by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.

Since its inception in 1970 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 dance repertory with passion, power, skill and diversity.

The company’s unique blend of dance styles may be seen in the variety of works scheduled for their January 17 Paramount performance --

• Momix dancer/choreographer Daniel Erzalow’s Pulse, with its abstract and mesmerizing gliding
• Gene Hill Sagan’s Ravel-scored La Valse which the Philadelphia Daily News described as “a feverish whirl of virtuoso lifts, turns and bodies flung through space at a dizzy pace”
• Hip-hop choreographer Rennie Harris’ dynamic retrospective of Philadelphia that alludes to the city’s rhythms, posture, physicality, and speed, Philadelphia Experiment

The professional company continues to consistently tour more than any Philadelphia cultural organization, performing as many as 50-60 concerts and 45 residencies annually. In 2000 the company received permanent residency at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia.

New York Times dance critic Jennifer Dunning states that Philadanco is "a company of happy, invigorating contrast...a venerable institution...but has not lost its youthful verve or the freshness of its strong technical grounding."

Philadanco continues to share that technical grounding through quality arts instruction and authentic learning experiences for young people that engage minds, hearts, and bodies. While in Charlottesville, the company will give a school time educational performance of its contemporary ballet The Rosa Parks Story for a sold-out audience of students from the Central Virginia region.

In addition, the company is offering a master class for dance students of all ages and skill levels at Balletschool (2409 Ivy Road, Charlottesville) on Wednesday, January 16. The 7 pm class is $30 per person, and advance reservation is required (contact Jane Colony Mills at 434.979.1922 ext. 104 or janemills@theparamount.net).

Seats are still available for Philadanco’s January 17 performance. Tickets are $43.50, $46.50, $49.50, and $54.50. Half-price student rush tickets and group discounts are offered. 

Tickets are available online or through The Paramount’s Box Office at 434.979.1333.

For more information about Philadanco, please visit www.philadanco.org.