Queens Theatre in the Park presents Philadanco, The Philadelphia Dance Company, one of America’s foremost dance ensembles. This company has been astounding audiences with its unparalleled energy, adventurous choreography, and superior technical abili
Philadanco has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Louis Bellson Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, and with world-renowned pop celebrities. They have performed at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Lincoln Center, Jacob’s Pillow, the Joyce Theatre, the Kennedy Center, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the Delacorte Theater, as well as throughout Europe and Asia.
The company has collaborated with a long list of acclaimed choreographers including Milton Myers, Talley Beatty, Donald Byrd, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Blondell Cummings, David Brown, Elisa Monte, Ron K. Brown and others.
In 1981, Philadanco was one of 15 national organizations selected to receive the first Institutionalization Advancement Grants awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts. In 1985 the company was a member of the Winter Pillow and was selected as one of nine companies to receive a prestigious National Choreographic Planning Grant.
Support and recognition continue from the City of Philadelphia and the National Endowment for the Arts as well as many other national corporations and foundations. The company just received its third Philip Morris New Works Fund Award. Two Philadanco members have also received the prestigious “Bessie” award for performance artistry in the world of dance.
Joan Myers Brown is the founder of the Philadelphia Dance Company (Philadanco) and The Philadelphia School of Dance Arts. She serves as honorary chairwoman 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.
Queens Theatre in the Park is conveniently located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, just off exit 9E of the Grand Central Parkway (near Shea Stadium and The US Tennis Center). In addition to ample free parking, the indoor theater has a free trolley service between the Willets Point/Shea Stadium stop of the No. 7 Train and the theater.
Philadanco will be at Queens Theatre in the Park Saturday, March 13, at 8 p.m., Sunday, March 14 at 3 p.m. and there will be an abridged matinee performance March 13 at 2 p.m. sponsored by ConEdison.
For information, to order tickets, or to be placed on the theater’s mailing list, call 718-760-0064, Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.
