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Dancefusion & Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble
Dance, Music, Theater
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Dancefusion and Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble come together to present two legendary giants of modern dance, Anna Sokolow and Mary Anthony. Their works, Rooms and Threnody, represent their greatest legacy.
Dancefusion's revival of Mary Anthony’s Threnody, choreographed in 1956, is based on the play Riders to the Sea by John Milton Synge. Threnody is an episodic dramatic work in three movements about life and loss. The work is set to Sinfonia da Requiem by Benjamin Britten. Threnody depicts the struggles of an Irish mother and her family, and the loses of her three sons to the sea. At its premiere in New York City, Louis Horst (Dance Observer) wrote, “Here is the most beautiful and complete dance composition this observer has seen... this is something approaching perfection.” The last movement is the formal lament (Threnody) for all who live and die by the sea.
Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble brings Anna Sokolow's masterpiece, Rooms, to the stage. On the edge between theater and dance, pulsing with loneliness, fantasy, and the fear of alienation to a driving jazz score by Kenyon Hopkins, Rooms is a dance performed in snapshots, wavering between isolation and dreamscape, referencing the stark struggles of life in tenement housing. Choreographed in 1955 during the breakdown of wartime solidarity, when the threat of atomic annihilation, the 1952 polio epidemic, and the Red Scare hung like invisible contagions, Rooms examines the psychic isolation and unfulfilled desires of characters isolated in their small, city apartments. An enduring masterpiece, Rooms reveals the deepest aspects of our human condition. Rooms shattered many choreographic conventions; most notably through its focus on everyday people as opposed to archetypal myths, its spare movement vocabulary, and storytelling through nonlinear vignettes. An enduring masterpiece, Rooms reveals the deepest aspects of our human condition.
Founded in 2000, the Performance Garage is housed in a historic 19th-century building that was originally a horse stable. Since 2002, the façade and interiors were renovated, and the space was transformed into supportive non-profit dance studios with residencies, educational programs, and a 110-seat dance theater.
September 25, 2026 7.30pm
1515 Brandywine Street
General Admission: $40
September 26, 2026 3.00pm
1515 Brandywine Street
General Admission: $40
September 26, 2026 7.30pm
1515 Brandywine Street
General Admission: $40
About the Artist
DANCEFUSION, founded by Artistic Director Gwendolyn Bye in 1987, is a modern dance repertory company dedicated to both the reconstruction of historic works from America's rich record of modern dance, and the creation of new work. The company has presented annual home seasons and numerous dance and teaching residencies in Greater Philadelphia. Dancefusion has reconstructed and presented historic works by Mary Anthony, Anna Sokolow, José Limón, Pauline Koner and Daniel Lewis. In 2019, Dancefusion was honored to receive the Mary Anthony Dance Collection which includes all Mary Anthony’s historic works. The company has created new works by Gwendolyn Bye, company members and guest choreographers including Colin Connor, Kun-Yang Lin, Daniel Maloney, Tonia Shimin, and Melissa Chisena. Dancefusion has presented at festivals including, The Come Together Festival, Philadelphia FringeArts Festival, The 92nd St.Y and the American Dance Guild Festival in New York City, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. For infor: gbyedance.org.
SOKOLOW THEATRE/DANCE ENSEMBLE is the modern dance company dedicated to presenting Anna Sokolow’s vast body of emotionally riveting work. Over a 70 year career, Sokolow continuously broke the silo of modern dance, focusing on the human experience and accessing any genre to fulfill her artistic purpose. Her masterpieces remain relevant to our times and touch the hearts of all people as we struggle with the universal issues of living, regardless of differences in place and culture. The company’s projects include reconstruction, reimagination, deconstruction, historical performance, teaching, lectures, archiving, and partnering with contemporary choreographers—all modes through which we step inside Sokolow’s masterworks and draw from this perspective to better frame our future. ST/DE was founded by Sokolow protege Jim May and is currently under the artistic direction of Samantha Géracht. For infor: sokolowtheatredance.org
- Gwendolyn ByeArtistic Director Dancefusiongbyedancefusion@verizon.net
- Kate LombardiDancer Dancefusionkate_rast@yahoo.com
- Gaberielle WrightDancer Dancefusiongcwright19@gmail.com
- Alexandra RobertsDancer Dancefusionrobertsalexandra09@gmail.com
- Omar Frederick PrattDancer Dancefusiondancerof09@hotmail.com
- Mary Therese EscuetaDancer Dancefusionmescueta@udel.edu
- Neeka GuentherDancer Dancefusionneekaguenther@gmail.com
- Alec AversaDancer Dancefusionaversa1221@gmail.com
- Jennifer YackelDancer Dancefusionjdydance@yahoo.com
- Lee EvansLighting Designercontagious60@hotmail.com
- Kerian PearsonStage Managerkeriandp@gmail.com
- Mary ZiogasManager Dancefusionmary@gbyedance.org
- Jim MayFounding Director Sokolow TDEjimamay@aol.com
- Janet Pilla MariniAssistant Director Dancefusionjanetpillamarini@gmail.com
- Samantha GerachtArtistic Director Sokolow TDEsamantha@sokolowtheatredance.org
- Lauren NaslundAssociate Artistic Dir. Sokolow TDElauren@sokolowtheatredance.org
- Saul UlarioTechnical Directorsaululario@gmail.com
- Ilana Ruth CohenDancer Sokolow TDEilana@sokolowtheatredance.org
- Mikey ComitoDancer Sokolow TDEmikey@sokolowtheatredance.org
- Edu HernandezDancer Sokolow TDEedu@sokolowtheatredance.org
- Samuel HumphreysDancer Sokolow TDEsamuel@sokolowtheatredance.org
- Krista JansenDancer Sokolow TDEkristarachojansen@sokolowtheatredance.org
- Brad OregoDancer Sokolow TDEbradorego@sokolowtheatredance.org
- Margherita TisatoDancer Sokolow TDEmargheritatisato@sokolowtheatredance.org
- Margaret BraceyDancer Sokolow TDEmargaretbracey@sokolowtheatredance.org
Accessibility & Content Considerations
Contact the Fringe Festival Box Office for up to date accessibility information.
This event is appropriate for ages 13+
Covid-19 Safety policy
This event does not require masks to be worn
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(at Race St.)
Philadelphia, PA 19106
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