Philadanco! is storming back into the Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater this Friday with “EXPLOSIVE,” a spring program that pairs brand-new choreography with tried-and-true crowd favorites, all powered by the company’s famously fearless dancers. Across three nights, the company is promising a tight, high-voltage run that gives equal spotlight to emerging voices and seasoned choreographers.
According to PHILADANCO, EXPLOSIVE runs April 17 6, with an opening-night performance at 7:30 p.m. and a Sunday matinee rounding out the engagement. Junior Dancer Nathan McNatt stopped by CBS News Philadelphia to preview the program and talk through how the company is tackling the new works on the bill.
What’s onstage
The evening features world premieres by Nicole Clarke-Springer and Roderick George alongside repertory favorites including Christopher Huggins’ “Blue” and Thang Dao’s “Without Witness,” as noted by The Philadelphia Inquirer. In his new piece, Roderick George said he “channels the exhaustion of hearing ‘thoughts and prayers’ into a call for action,” in an interview with The Philadelphia Sunday Sun. The curated mix of premieres and returning works is designed to highlight both the company’s long-running legacy and the next generation of choreographic talent.
Why it matters
PHILADANCO has long served as a cultural anchor in Philadelphia and is a resident company of the Kimmel Cultural Campus, using its Perelman Theater runs to commission new work and champion Black choreographers. The company is framing EXPLOSIVE as a deliberate platform for risk-taking and fresh voices, a strategy that has been underscored in local arts coverage. The spring residency often doubles as a testing ground for new choreographic voices in the city, which means works that land here frequently echo through future seasons.
Tickets and full show details are available on the Kimmel and Ensemble Arts Philly event listing, and availability may shift, so audiences are encouraged to confirm with the box office or check the online schedule before heading out. See Ensemble Arts Philly for exact performance times and purchasing options.
.jpg){kind=link}