Nutcracker the History of the

Nutcracker The history of the Philadelphia dance company. When was it established? What were the circumstances under with it was formed? Is it a new company, or an established company? Dance Advance, a Trust funded by the charitable 'Pew Charitable Trust', is administered by the University of the Arts. The Dance Advance supports a large group of initiatives that understand and support the artistic excellence and the dance performances in the state of Philadelphia.

The program has in fact been designed in such a way that it would effectively support Philadelphia's amazing and versatile range of dance forms, and also the basic infrastructure that makes the diverse dance environment that a dance form needs to flourish unabated. (About Dance Advance Dance History, 1999) However, the Philadelphia Dance Company was established in the year 1970, by Joan Myers Brown, and, also known as Philadanco, it is a modern and contemporary dance company that tours both throughout the nation and also internationally.

In fact, the Philadelphia Dance Company has been touring the nation and the entire world for more than thirty five years today, and all its performances are for completely sold out audiences. The audiences for their shows are comprised of people from all walks of life, all ages, both the genders, and are of different creeds, colors, races, ethnicity, and also of entirely diverse cultural traditions.

Its history shows that it is a virtual 'trailblazer', and that it was in fact the very first pilot dance company in the state of Pennsylvania, Comprehensive Training Act Program.

In the same way, the Philadelphia Dance Company has many more firsts to its credit, like for example, it was the fits company to hire its workers on a fifty two-week salary, it was also the first company to own housing for the dancers, and also the first to found the International Conference of Black Dance Companies, and the International Association of blacks in Dance, in order to address the special needs of African-American dancers, and to support them in a proper manner.

(Philadelphia Dance Company, History) The Philadelphia Dance Company has grown from a grass roots community-based performing arts group, to becoming, at present, one of America's foremost dance groups. It is a non-profit professional dance organization, and its mission is to perform and present a high quality of dance performance, and also to improve the dancing skills of professionals in a nurturing type of atmosphere. It is also a model for choreographers and dancers not only in this company, but outside as well. (Baylin Artists Management, the Philadelphia Dance Company) 2.

The history of the performers. Who are they? What is their background and training? Who has influenced them? The dancers of the Philadelphia Dance Company are often referred to as a miracle of skill and of energy, and they dance in a variety of idioms that most other dancers never even attempt most of their lives. They in fact represent the human spirit through their dance.

(Philadelphia Dance Company: Philadanco Dancers) Since the company was started primarily with the aim of offering African-American people a real chance to perform, and also a chance to follow their dreams of performing. The dancers of the School have a depth of emotions to denote through their dancing, and some of the so called 'icons' of the Dance Company are Gamble and Huff, Wilson Pickett, Patti Labelle, Lou Rawls, the O'Jays, Teddy Pendergrass and Billy Paul. Some other contemporary dancers of today are Odara Jabali-Nash, Tommie Evans and William Credell.

(Need an Afro-Centric Break?) The quality and the caliber of the training that the dancers of the Philadanco receive are far beyond the general level of other dance companies, and they are all dancers who belong to the African- American community, who wish to excel in whatever they do.

The former instructors and trainers of the dance company move on to make a career out of their dance, and they join other dance companies so that they may also derive the benefit of the Philadelphia dance Company, and it must be noted that over a period of thirty five years, the Philadanco has trained more than four thousand young people in the dance form, and it has also trained about 750 company members.

New generations of dancers are instructed in the Dance School all the time, and most of the time, it is the former dancers who return to train these new students. There are many people who opine that the Philadelphia Dance Company is indeed a 'National Treasure'. The people who most influence the present day students are the past ones, and in this way, the tradition continues. (Baylin Artists Management, the Philadelphia Dance Company) Describe the show- The movement (is there a style to it? be descriptive).

The performers (technical success, stage presence)- The mis-en-scene (including costumes, lighting, special effects, scenery)- What was the choreographer trying to say? Traditionally, the Nutcracker is a show that is especially hosted for children as a Christmas treat. But Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker drew in the crowds as never before, and the audience is generally comprised of people from all age groups, and colors and races and creeds. More like a modern dance drama than a ballet, this is a performance by talented dancers.

(Ballet is a Cracker of a show) The show is specifically meant to be performed during the holiday season. (Fall Guide: Dance) What is unique about this particular performance by the Philadelphia Dance company, of the traditional Nutcracker story of a Christmas gift of a soldier to an orphaned girl is that it is a deviation on the original theme. In this case, it was produced by Daniel Ezralow and it was entitled 'Xmas Philes'.

In a criticism of the performance by Andrew Simonet, the writer states that the entire show was an unconnected series of moves and gags, and the dancers came alive when it was time for the curtain call. (Phlaking Out: Ezralow Meets Danco) It is the general opinion that when the Philadanco debuted 'Xmas Philes', it immediately achieved the status of a holiday tradition, and it became acknowledged as a very viable alternative to the other normal holiday tradition, the Nutcracker.

Choreographed by Daniel Ezralow, the performance is fun, poignant, and at the same time, funky. It has several dazzling sequences, and it showcases some very Broadway dance moves. Included among the various and several different styles used by the dancers of the Company, are ballet, mambo, a neoclassical style, and a typical Broadway outlook.

For example, in the Rudolph the Red Nosed reindeer section, the dancers all wear a flamboyant and modern red top and hot pants, and there is a Blue section within the play where a male dancer wears a pair of blue pajamas, and dances slowly and sensuously to music. In Silent Night, all the dancers wear gauzy white robes, in order to resemble spirits of the night.

(Philadanco, Xmas Philes) Xmas Philes is a part of one of the first attempts at a holiday performance by the Philadelphia Dance Company, and the show as such was produced in response to the several requests that the Artistic Director of the School and the Founder Joan Myers Brown receives from predominantly black schools, which want the African-American community of the United States to come up with an alternative to the traditional Nutcracker.

Each of the sixteen sections that make up the entire performance is done to a Christmas song, and there is no actual story. (Holiday Meets Hollywood) The performers of the Xmas Philes were clothed in uniquely different colors, like for example, a black clad Santa, and a barely clad man jumping over a reindeer, and so on. The feeling that is generated is that of yearning, and the performances, of course, are more sexy than not.

The music for the performance ranges from jazz to pop, to the traditional carols, and this in turn influences the mood and the movement of the performance; from the grim and the somber to the funny and the comedic. There is a vast amount of energy evident in the play, and emotions are never sacrificed, and the dancers use their stage presence to influence the emotions of the audience, and this leaves the audience, at many times during the play, teary eyed and sniffling.

One perfect example is when the homeless angel enters the scene. The beauty of the play is that it deals with realism, and real issues like depression and loneliness. (Arts and Entertainment, Performance, A List) It is well-known that the choreographer of the Xmas Philes who enjoys a lineage of Philobolus, Momix.