Building on the success of its fall digital season, the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Pennsylvania announces a series of six dance performances, streamed live for the spring 2021 digital season, beginning February 4.
The Annenberg Center’s spring 2021 digital season reflects the wide range of diverse artists and art forms presented on its stages during its nearly 50-year history. Designed specifically for the virtual stage, these original performances feature world-renowned musicians and dance ensembles, rising stars, world premieres, and Philadelphia debuts, along with programming that takes inspiration from the extraordinary social changes of the past nine months. Each presentation integrates live chat and interactive Q&A with the performers. The independent film series will be announced in early 2021. For more information, visit AnnenbergCenter.org.
“This past fall, as one of only a few venues in the Philadelphia area that was streaming live performances, we were enormously gratified to be able to give artists the chance to take the stage and share their inspirational work once again,” said Executive and Artistic Director Christopher A. Gruits. “And we’re excited that our spring digital season will build on this successful foundation. So many artists have been fueled by the challenges of the past nine months to create deeply powerful programming, exploring and reflecting on our experiences. We look forward to presenting this important work in a number of world premieres, and we also are eager to see many well-loved artists, whose work will lift us up and provide joy and solace.”
DANCE TAKES CENTER STAGE
Dance performances in the Annenberg Center’s spring digital season include the Paul Taylor Dance Company, featuring six dancers in iconic works that explore contrasting sides of human nature. (February 18).
HopeBoykinDance’s performance marks Boykin’s Philadelphia choreographic debut. Beloved for her tenures with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and PHILADANCO, Boykin will dance alongside five other dancers in a program of world-premiere works. (March 11)
Rennie Harris Puremovement returns to the Annenberg Center with an evening of works including two that directly reflect on current tragedies facing our nation. (April 1)
Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers brings a program that includes the world premiere of The Wind, performed by Kun-Yang Lin himself, who returns to the stage for the first time since his retirement from dancing in 2013. In collective, the program will reflect on the state of the world amidst a pandemic with prevailing messages of hope and unity. (April 22)
Ayodele Casel, whom Gregory Hines called “one of the top young tap dancers in the world,” makes her Philadelphia debut in an all-female program entitled Chasing Magic, alongside singer/songwriter Crystal Monee Hall and acclaimed pianist Annastasia Victory. (May 6)
Matthew Neenan, Choreographer in Residence at Pennsylvania Ballet and co-founder of BalletX, closes out the season with a site-specific world premiere exploring intimacy in isolation. (May 27)
Annenberg Center’s Digital Season
The Annenberg Center’s live performances are streamed using state-of-the-art digital technology from the Prince and Zellerbach theatres. The cameras and related technology to enable high-quality live streaming was made possible through a gift from Paul R. Wiggin, a graduate of the Wharton School of Business and a member of the Annenberg Center’s Board of Advisors. The one-night-only live presentations are planned with the digital medium in mind, lasting about one hour, integrating live chat, and concluding with interactive discussions with the creators and performers. Livestreamed performances are available online for ticket holders for 48 hours after the start time.
Visit AnnenbergCenter.org for more information.
