ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY PRESENTS
PHILADANCO!’S SPRING RESIDENCY,
EXPLOSIVE!,
A CHARGED SHOWCASE OF FUTURE-FORWARD
CHOREOGRAPHY,
APRIL 17–19, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (March 4, 2026) – As the home for Philadelphia’s most exceptional performing artists and Resident Companies, Ensemble Arts Philly proudly presents PHILADANCO!’s Spring Residency entitled EXPLOSIVE! at the Perelman Theater inside the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts from April 17–19, 2026. Dedicated to supporting the city’s artistic ecosystem – both the next generation of artists and audiences – Ensemble Arts nurtures creativity, innovation, and diverse cultural expression along the Avenue of the Arts – a commitment exemplified by the partnership with PHILADANCO!, which began nearly 25 years ago with the opening of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.
As a pillar of Philadelphia’s dance community and Ensemble Arts Resident Company since 2001, a cornerstone of PHILADANCO!’s legacy has always been its fierce commitment to cultivating new voices in dance, a mission helmed by cultural pioneer and national arts leaders Joan Myers Brown. With EXPLOSIVE!, the company fuels that mission with a high-voltage program created by four dynamic choreographers. The result is an electrifying evening where risk, innovation, and raw physical power take center stage.
This spring, PHILADANCO! throws open the doors to the future – inviting audiences to experience the next wave of artists reshaping the landscape of contemporary dance. From razor-sharp athleticism to lush musicality and deeply expressive storytelling, each work exposes a different dimension of PHILADANCO! dancers’ virtuosity, pushing the boundaries of form, feeling, and fire.
This isn’t just a showcase of new choreography – it's a seismic shift, a space where tradition meets fearless experimentation. With EXPLOSIVE!, PHILADANCO! asserts once again that the next generation of dance isn’t arriving someday – it’s already here.
“PHILADANCO! has been part of our story since the Kimmel Center’s earliest days, and there’s no better partner to embody both our history and our future,” said Ryan Fleur, President & CEO. “Under Joan Myers Brown’s extraordinary vision, the company has set a national standard for excellence and innovation. At Ensemble Arts, we’re proud to be their home on the Avenue of the Arts and to share in their ongoing evolution – supporting artists who reflect Philadelphia’s creative spirit and inspire the world.”
“Since its founding, PHILADANCO! has stood as both a guardian of tradition and a force for artistic evolution. Built on the vision of Joan Myers Brown, the company has long championed the belief that exceptional dancers must be matched with bold choreographic voices,” said Kim Y. Bears-Bailey, Co-Artistic Director. “EXPLOSIVE! brings that philosophy to life, uniting four distinct artists shaping the program: world premieres by Nicole Clarke-Springer and Roderick George, alongside the return of works by Christopher Huggins and Thang Dao. Together, these choreographers illuminate the depth, power, and versatility of PHILADANCO!’s dancers while expanding a repertory that honors the legacy and drives the art form forward.”
For more than 55 years, PHILADANCO! has stood as one of the nation's most vital and influential dance companies. Founded by the visionary Joan Myers Brown, the company has long championed African American traditions in dance while nurturing generations of dancers and choreographers. Renowned for its technical prowess, cultural impact, and boundary-pushing repertory, PHILADANCO! continues to serve as a powerful platform where artists of color are empowered, celebrated, and seen. The Spring Residency expands this legacy – offering a bold new chapter that honors the company’s past while charging headfirst into its future.
Other featured upcoming performances include Whitney Cummings (April 3, 2026, Miller Theater); Peppa Pig: My First Concert (April 4, 2026, Miller Theater); Bridget Everett (April 11, 2026, Miller Theater); Christian McBride and Edgar Meyer (April 21, 2026, Miller Theater); Michael McIntyre (April 22, 2026, Miller Theater); Shucked (April 21 – May 3, 2026, Forrest Theatre); Bat Out of Hell – The Musical (May 1, 2026, Miller Theater); WXPN Welcomes Rhiannon Giddens (May 5, 2026, Miller Theater); Chicago (May 12–17, 2026, Forrest Theatre); and Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis (May 26, 2026, Marian Anderson Hall inside the Kimmel Center).
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased online at www.ensembleartsphilly.org, by calling 215-893-1999, or in person at the Academy of Music Box Office (240 S. Broad Street) daily from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. For more information, visit www.ensembleartsphilly.org.
PHILADANCO! EXPLOSIVE!
Perelman Theater in the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Friday, April 17, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
The PHILADANCO! Spring Residency will also include a free student matinee on Thursday, April 16, at the Kimmel Center.
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ABOUT ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY
For more information about ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY, visit www.ensembleartsphilly.org.
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For photography, please visit www.ensembleartsphilly.smugmug.com
Click here for a PDF version of this press release.