Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists

"Perfect Motion"
Thoughts from the Artistic Directors

A panel of four artistic directors of dance companies in Philadelphia gave their views on several issues during the May 30, 2001, forum "Perfect Motion: The Evolution and Diversity of Dance":

Joan Myers Brown
Brown and Philadanco are a Philadelphia institution. She founded the company three decades ago and has taken it all over the world. She also founded the Philadelphia School of Dance Arts.
On boys and dance: "Lots of times boys want to dance but fathers won't let them. Adult perception of dance has to change. One boy didn't study ballet until after his mother died."
On boys and hip hop: "It's perception. Hip hop is okay. Try to drag them into ballet …"
On dance on MTV: "MTV dance … is not something I want to get involved in."
On maintaining a company: "I have a 16-person company. I'd love to have 20. If a dancer is injured, I can't afford to replace them. I have 180 people at an audition and I can only hire one. People are on 30-36 weeks. I try to get them a 52-week contract. This is the first year I have not had five to six dancers go to Ailey (the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater). I can't bring more into the company because I can't afford it."

Robert Garland's Return Robert Garland
Garland was principal dancer for the Dance Theater of Harlem for 13 years. A native Philadelphian, he has danced with Philadanco and studied with the Pennsylvania Ballet. He has been a resident choreographer with Dance Theater and director of its school. He's now doing archival work with the company.
On hip hop: "The African American community is encouraged to study everything so we would have more avenues. Rennie (Harris of Rennie Harris Puremovement) seeks to put structure in what is not structured. It's something that is very very new."
On what makes a good dancer: It depends on who's watching. Some dancers may not have ballet feet but are good dancers."
On boys and dance: "Once they learn it's really about math and geometry, they're interested. When we approach it that way, we draw more boys and girls."
On black females and dance: "Philadelphia has a long history of African American ballet dancers. Depends on who you're influenced by (and) their particular perceptions. There was (always) somebody training somebody somewhere."

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