In this residency, choreographer Lionel Popkins, will develop Reorient the Orient, a multifaceted exploration blending performance, installation, and social critique. Responding to the complex history of interculturalism, Popkin amplifies the presence of brown South Asian bodies in contemporary art and performance. The final work will create an immersive public sharing across Dance Place's theater, lobby, and studios, community members will be invited to explore freely, choosing their path and encounters.

BigKid Dance, a contemporary project-based company in Philadelphia, is embarking on the development of their latest work-in-progress, if I die before the revolution. The piece reflections on the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic, exploring the anguish and helplessness experienced by queer individuals unable to care for or be with their dying partners. In memory of the untold stories and lives cut short, the work also offers an imaginative portrayal of survival, love, and solidarity within the queer community. Throughout the week, the artist will have public engagements to connect with community members.

AIR TIME: Season Party with Artist-in-Residence Ronya-Lee Anderson and Bambi!
Join Ronya-Lee and Bambi on the dance floor for an evening with local DJ’s and popup performances at Dance Place.

A Soft Place to Land is a love letter to black women that finds healing in sisterhood. The work explores historical and contemporary meanings of radical self and communal care. It stands as a personal and collective memoir of black female identity, considering all of the many layers, depths, complexities, and traditions that shape and define who Black women are and who they are becoming. This work is supported by the Dance Place Co-Presentation Series.

Warming up, I'm ready is a dance-theatre performance that asks, What does it feel like in your body to be ready…to express yourself, to be present with others, to be in creative process? This work is supported by the Dance Place Co-Presentation Series.

During their time at Dance Place, the company will be developing ANTARANGA: Between You and Me, the first work in a duology, and explores themes of intimacy, connection, trust, and community among BIPOC women/femmes.

Get ready for an electrifying night with DC Casineros as they bring together the vibrant, diverse international dance communities of the DMV for an unforgettable evening of rhythm, passion, and celebration. Experience a show-stopping performance that will leave you breathless, and then keep the energy going at the DC Cuban Social. Don’t miss out on this dynamic fusion of culture and dance—come feel the beat!

Experience the groundbreaking artistry of Marcus Isaiah in their debut, evening-lengthen work at Dance Place! Get ready to be mesmerized by a performance that brings a fresh and captivating perspective to the stage.

Immerse yourself in the powerful rhythms and movements of Coyaba Dance Theater as they bring the spirit of Kwanzaa to life! With soul-stirring live-drumming and dance, Coyaba will take you on a journey through the Seven Principles of Nguzo Saba—Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, Kuumba, and Imani. Each performance is a celebration of heritage, a tribute to Black culture, and a burst of love and tradition that will leave you inspired and uplifted. Don't miss this exhilarating weekend of unity, creativity, and joy—where every beat and every step tells a story of connection and pride!

ORIGIN: A Spiritual Journey Back Home, will take the audience on an amazing journey, reconnecting the African spiritual traditions back to the beginning, back to Africa, where those traditions were a central aspect of life, family, and community. KanKouran’s Artistic Director, Assane Konte, will present an elaborate showcase of choreography that demonstrates a riveting and highly energized array of traditional spiritual dances that celebrate the long ancestral line from Africa to the world abroad.