Stay tuned…. details to follow….
In 2026, DANCE UP CLOSE will premiere several new works. Venerated dance artist/educator
Curt Haworth and newcomer Tammy Carrasco will share a program in Mid- March.

In late April, Putty Dance Project’s new work explores the legacy of Francis Johnson, a
pioneering Black composer and bandleader in early 19th-century Philadelphia. Led by
choreographer Lauren Putty White and musician Brent White, the project reimagines
Johnson’s surviving compositions through jazz and movement, bridging historical social dances
with contemporary expression. Featuring dancers and musicians, the performance highlights
the deep connections between Black American music and dance traditions. (This special work
garnered a grant from the NEA America250, which we hope we will receive – as the government
is shut down at this writing, and the agency’s future is still uncertain.)
In June, PDP will participate in ArtPhilly’s month-long celebration of local artists, with an Urban
Movement Arts’ presentation.