Philadanco!

About the Company

The Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO!) was founded in 1970 by Joan Myers Brown. Created out of need to provide performance opportunities for Black dancers, who were then systematically denied entrance in many local dance schools and had even fewer professional performance outlets.

PHILADANCO! has since grown into a professional dance company that is recognized across the nation and around the world for its artistic integrity, superbly trained dancers, and captivating performances. Established on principles of providing opportunity, inclusion, and hope. PHILADANCO! bridges cultural divides and consistently performs before sold-out audiences of people from diverse ethnicities and communities.

PHILADANCO! is a company representing a history of “first” accomplishments. In 1988, Joan Myers Brown, along with the PHILADANCO! staff launched the 1st International Conference on Black Dance Companies with the support of The Pew Charitable Trusts, University of the Arts, the Pennsylvania Arts Council, the City of Philadelphia, and the Coalition of African American Cultural  Organizations. In 1991, at Dayton, Ohio, at the then annual Conference, The International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) was formalized, and instituted an Emergency Fund for IABD artists and companies. PHILADANCO! has four companies under the the organization, the professional company (1st company- PHILADANCO!), D2 (PHILADANCO!’s second company, ages 16-23yrs old), D3(PHILADANCO!’s third company for teens ages 13-16yrs old) and D3 Minis (PHILADANCO’s fourth company for children 10-13 yrs old).

The company tours both nationally and internationally in addition to their regular appearances locally as the resident company for the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts (Perelman Theater) and other venues in the Philadelphia area. The professional company of PHILADANCO! is an internationally recognized modern dance repertory dance company, providing performances through the year with domestic and international touring.