Penn Live Arts Blog / April 2024

Announcing the 24/25 season

Posted April 19, 2024

BEYOND BOUNDARIES

In the 24/25 season, we amplify diverse artistry that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries. We push past barriers, embrace innovation and forge connections, using the universal language of music, dance and theatre to enrich our understanding of the world. Across cultures and continents, we celebrate the transformative power of a live performance to bring us together, finding joy in our shared humanity.

THE WORLD ON OUR STAGE

From Korea, England and Belgium to France, Italy, Canada and beyond, nine artists appear in our city for the very first time. To this, we add performers from Spain, India, South Africa and, of course, our own country to showcase the vibrant diversity and interconnectivity of our world. Traversing across borders, we proudly bring these renowned artists and companies to Philadelphia, many brand new to Penn Live Arts and offering exciting world, U.S. and local premieres. We set performances on ice and use virtual reality to experience dance like never before, defying conventions on how to enjoy the arts. And, we invite you to go beyond the stage for meaningful programs that encourage us to ask timely questions, dive deeper and find common ground.

A world of performing arts comes alive on our stage this season. We hope you'l Read more...

Rennie Harris Residency in Area High Schools

Posted April 4, 2024

Image credit: Edward Epstein
In a basement dance studio at George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science in North Philly, Rennie Harris Puremovement (RHPM) executive director and company manager Rodney Hill surveyed Geoffrey Winikur’s 11th grade class. They’d just completed a dance warmup led by Puremovement dancers Justine Diggs-Cunningham and Rachel Snider, building upon two weeks of improv games, conversation and monologue writing led by Penn Live Arts teaching artist Donnell Powell. The dancers’ visit was the third in a series of four visits to Carver and to West Philadelphia High School, comprising a school partnership in connection with our three-year Rennie Harris residency, sponsored by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. Read more...