Singular dance performances, film screenings and master classes will be part of The Black Rep’s inaugural Phoenix Rising Performance Series to launch next month at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation in Grand Center.
The program is in honor of The Black Rep’s original name (Phoenix Theatre Troupe) when it was founded by Ron Himes in 1976 as an organization committed to creating opportunities for Black artists and providing platforms for theatre, dance and other creative expressions from the African American perspective. Phoenix Rising seeks to continue that mission by widening the platform to include alternative spaces for new audiences.
The first series features a two-week collaboration with the Pulitzer Arts Foundation for “Movement in Conversation with Landscape,” held throughout the Pulitzer grounds from June 16 to 25. All programs are free and open to all.
Performances scheduled for June 16 (6 to 7 p.m.) June 17 (5 to 6 p.m.) and June 18 (5 to 6 p.m.) include: St. Louis-based Seventh Floor Dance Collective, a company dedicated to the preservation and legacy of the Dunham Technique; Brother(hood) Dance, a duo whose performances seek to inform its audiences on the socio-political and environmental injustices from a global perspective; and Nana Chinara of Healing the Black Body, a group dedicated to practicing healing and liberation in Black queer and trans communities through performance.
Performances scheduled for June 23 (6 to 7 p.m.), June 24 (5 to 6 p.m.) and June 25 (5 to 6 p.m.) include: Swamp Body Dance by international dancer, choreographer and organizer Brittany Williams; Harge Dance Stories, which focuses on Black and queer vernacular movement practices, codes and rituals; and Seventh Floor Dance Collective with singer-songwriter Siobhan Monique of Ancestral Funk.
Performances take place inside the galleries at the Pulitzer, as well as the museum’s outdoor spaces, including Park-Like and Spring Church.
In addition, there will be a screening of dance films “The Weight of Sugar” and “a clearing” from 8 to 9:30 p.m. on June 22. Free registration at the Pulitzer is required for screenings. A full schedule of free master classes, with registration, will also be offered.
For a complete listing of Phoenix Rising performances, screenings and classes (presented by the Whitaker Foundation), visit The Black Rep’s website.
