Summer Training Program

During the months of June, July and August, young people are introduced to the rigors of the dance life with special teachers and instructors who again instruct in the major dance genres. This program allows Philadanco to assist even younger dancers with mentoring, coaching and intensive training. The summer program participants are also allowed to travel to local Philadanco performances seeing first hand the organization of the dance program. They also can perform ‘Danco on Danco'. It is an excellent opportunity for the company to provide support to our younger dancers.

Professional Dance Company

Philadanco the professional company is held in highest esteem internationally. It is one of the crown jewels of the Philadelphia Cultural Community succeeding against seemingly insurmountable odds to thrive in a climate of cultural challenges endemic to all modern dance companies as well as those special circumstances of Black Dance Companies. The company is a professional entity with dancers on 52 week salary, a dedicated administrative staff and artistic support of internationally renown choreographers, teachers and technically sophisticated artists in lighting and costume design. The company tours throughout the country and the world and is the resident modern dance company for the new Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts where it performs in the fall and the spring of each year. Its repertoire highlights the works of such modern choreographers as Jawole Zollar, Christopher Huggins, as well as such pioneers as Louis Johnson, Talley Beatty and Harold Pierson. In addition, the company created the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) to provide a place for that community to meet and work together on common problems, share resources and develop collaborations and alliances beneficial to the field. The company also provides resource support through its Gene Hill Sagan Archives which houses videos of works by Mr. Sagan, Talley Beatty and Billy Wilson, all pioneers in Black dance.