Flood, begin again

The Naked Stark

Dance, Immersive, Music

Connect

Step into Flood, begin again and immerse yourself in the real and imaginative effort necessary to ride and become the waters. This dance performance transforms the Fairmount Water Works’ former Kelly Pool into a site of regeneration, a fantastical riverbed, and portal to new beginnings.

In Flood, begin again dance artists Amalia Colón-Nava, Chloe Marie, Harlee Trautman, Katherine Kiefer Stark, Marcie Mamura, and Meredith Stapleton along with composer Andy Thierauf and lighting designer Harbour Edney, bring audiences on an immersive journey that compels us to consider our shared stewardship of water, place, and each other.


Six dancers propel, cascade, and ebb through the textural landscapes of concrete, river, sound, and lighting that flood the pool and offer uncomfortable, humorous, and risky possibilities.


Watch us harness our collective effort to navigate real and imagined currents, take risks, sink and swim together. At times resisting and at times striving to soften into our fragility, we search for shared horizons, at least one thing we can see, believe in, orient ourselves toward, and, in the right moment, turn it upside down and begin again.


We are thrilled to premiere September 26, 1pm in the Fringe AND our run continues:
September 28, 7pm
September 29, 7pm
October 1, 7pm
October 2, 7pm
October 3, 1pm


Limited seating, we highly recommend getting tickets in advance. 


Visit thenakedstark.com for 9/28-10/3 tickets.


*Photo by Shoshana Isaacs

Details
Run Time: 75 mins
Ticket Price: $25

PWYC Options $5+

Venue: Fairmount Water Works

Dates: September 26, 2026

September 26, 2026 1.00pm

640 Waterworks Drive

General Admission: $25

PWYC Options


About the Artist

The Naked Stark is a West Philly-based modern dance company that crafts up-close, immersive dance experiences that delve into the intricacies of the human experience, question the status quo, nurture imaginations, and offer hope. We develop work through rigorous movement research, thematic research, and environmental design to create unique worlds. The company’s creative collaborative structure engages multidisciplinary artists who value intergenerational connections, and who find joy in this process of deep research and world building. We engage audiences in our questions and invite active participation and meaning-making.

Flood, begin again emerged from the Bodies of Water project which began with a 2024 residency at FWW. We became FWW’s Partner in Movement in 2025, performing our short commissioned work in tandem with the art exhibit CONFLUENCE. In the 2025 Fringe, we shared a three-part journey through the FWW that included a work-in-progress in the former Kelly Pool.


Our work Flood, begin again was made possible by the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Creative Sector Flex Fund, Fairmount Water Works, and our incredible community who contributed to our crowdfunding campaign. We are grateful! 

For more than 200 years, the Fairmount Water Works has told the story of our connection with water. It operated as a pumping station from 1815 to 1909, an aquarium from 1911 to 1962, as the Kelly Natatorium until 1972, and today serves as Philadelphia Water’s public education destination, housing the award-winning Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center featuring landmark exhibitions and serving as a living laboratory for urban watershed sustainability. Located on the Schuylkill River at 640 Waterworks Drive, off scenic Kelly Drive in Philadelphia, the FWW is recognized as The Delaware River Basin’s Official Watershed Education Center and Gateway Center for the Schuylkill River Natio

  • Amalia Colón-NavaCreator / Performeracolonnava95@gmail.com
  • Andy ThieraufComposer / Performerathierauf@gmail.com
  • Aubrey DonischMarketing / Front of Houseinfo.thenakedstark@gmail.com
  • Chloe MarieCreator / Performerchloemnp@gmail.com
  • Harbour EdneyLighting Designer / Operatorhmedneylighting@gmail.com
  • Harlee TrautmanCreator / Performerharleetrautman@gmail.com
  • Katherine Kiefer StarkCreator / Performerthenakedstark@gmail.com
  • Marcie MamuraCreator / Performermarciemamura@gmail.com
  • Meredith StapletonCreator / Performerstapleton.meredith@gmail.com

Accessibility & Content Considerations

Contact the Fringe Festival Box Office for up to date accessibility information.

This event is appropriate for all ages

Audience Interaction

Performance area is accessed via a flight of stairs. There is no air conditioning in the performance space, but paper fans will be available. There will be drinking water onsite. Hard copies of all text used in the performance will be available upon request.

Covid-19 Safety policy

This event does not require masks to be worn


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