PDP Presents

In 2009 Philadelphia Dance Projects launched Philadelphia Dance Projects Presents, a presenting series featuring dance performances, workshops, and “Informances” by individual dance artists and companies. PDP Presents provided an adventuresome series in contemporary dance within a broader local and global context through 2014. In 2015 the series was curtailed due to diminished funding support. From 2015-2018 PDP continued to do special presentations under PDP Presents. The full series is being re-instituted in 2020.

2017 PDP WOLF-IN-SKINS Dance/Opera Creative Residency with choreographer CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS and composer GREGORY SPEARS

Counter-tenor Anthony Roth Constanzo with Wolves in “Wolf-in-Skins” PDP Presents Fall 2017 photo credit: Steven Pisano

“Dance and opera certainly have been blended over the centuries, but not often with the sort of intensive interaction demanded by [choreographer] Williams and composer Gregory Spears, both seemingly fearless about striking out in new direction.” David Patrick Stearns, Philadelphia Inquirer

“Operatic elements tell the story while dance explores the dreaminess of the mythology…it’s a visual feast.” - Merilyn Jackson, Philadelphia Inquirer

If you were one of the lucky audience to see the Philadelphia Dance Projects’ sold out performances of Wolf-In-Skins, Act 1 in 2013 you know how exciting this work is!

A PDP special residency will begin in 2017 and culminate with a script in hand presentation in the Fall when some of those marvelous singers, wolves and hounds, along with new puppets will return.

PDP has received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for a creative residency with choreographer, Christopher Williams and composer Gregory Spears to work towards finishing this wonderful dance opera.

“Operatic elements tell the story while dance explores the dreaminess of the mythology…it’s a visual feast.” - Merilyn Jackson, Philadelphia Inquirer

If you were one of the lucky audience to see the Philadelphia Dance Projects’ sold out performances of Wolf-In-Skins, Act 1 in 2013 you know how exciting this work is!

A PDP special residency will begin in 2017 and culminate with a script in hand presentation in the Fall when some of those marvelous singers, wolves and hounds, along with new puppets will return.

PDP Presents DANCE UP CLOSE

The full series is being re-instituted in 2020.

Artists presented in DANCE UP CLOSE have included among others; Headlong Dance Theater, Levy Dance, Miguel Gutierrez, Ellen Fisher, Shinichi Iova Koga/Ink Boat, Ishmael Houston-Jones, Lisa Kraus, Gabrielle Revlock, Lionel Popkin, Body Cartography, Faye Driscoll, Leah Stein Dance Co., Christopher Williams & Gregory Spears, Nichole Canuso, Subcircle, Nora Gibson, John Scott.

Calendar Archive

Informance with Amalia Colon-Nava

December 2, 2020 - 7:00pm

Hi! My name is Amalia and I’m a Philadelphia based artist hosting a show-and-talk of sorts with the help of PDP Presents. A few years ago I started on a project with the help of Tobias Sköld to create dance films zeroing in on different parts of the body. Taking advantage of the vantage points available with a camera and giving very specific body parts a chance at center stage.

Informance with Christopher Williams

November 11, 2020 - 7:00pm

Christopher Williams ...“one of the most exciting choreographic voices out there” - The New York Times

Following in the Footsteps of Nijinsky

Informance with Dr. Lynn Matluck Brooks

October 28, 2020 - 7:00pm

Dr. Lynn Matluck Brooks is the Arthur and Katherine Shadek Humanities Professor Emerita at Franklin & Marshall College, where she founded the Dance Program in 1984. A recipient of several distinguished awards for her teaching, she has also earned grants from the Fulbright/Hayes Commission, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Informance with Tommie-Waheed Evans

October 14, 2020 - 7:00pm

TOMMIE-WAHEED EVANS is a rising choreographer and a recipient of the prestigious 2019 Princess Grace Honoria Award in Choreography. For many years you may seen him as principal member of Philadanco. He has created dance works for BalletX, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, PHILADANCO, Verb Ballets, Ballet Memphis, University of the Arts, and Boston Conservatory at Berklee, among others and is currently working on commissions with Lula Washington Dance Theatre and Louisville Ballet.

Informance with Megan Mazarick

September 9, 2020 - 7:00pm

…Mazarick is clearly an engaging and original artistic force on the Philly dance scene.

- Jane Fries, The Dance Journal
-Photo credit: Jano Cohen