Local Dance History Project

Philadelphia Dance Projects

What We're Made Of (1980), choreographed by Michael Biello, Ishmael Houston-Jones, and Dan Martin, and performed in 2010 as part of Philadelphia Dance Projects' Local Dance History Project. Dancers: Gregory Holt, John Luna, Scott McPheeters, William Robinson, and Anthony Pirollo (cellist). Photo by Brian Mengini. — *What We're Made Of* (1980), choreographed by Michael Biello, Ishmael Houston-Jones, and Dan Martin, and performed in 2010 as part of Philadelphia Dance Projects' *Local Dance History Project.* Dancers: Gregory Holt, John Luna, Scott McPheeters, William Robinson, and Anthony Pirollo (cellist). Photo by Brian Mengini.

He & He (excerpts of performance works 1982–89), choreographed by Michael Biello and Dan Martin, and performed in 2010 as part of Philadelphia Dance Projects' Local Dance History Project. Dancers: John Luna and Scott McPheeters. Photo by Brian Mengini. — *He & He* (excerpts of performance works 1982–89), choreographed by Michael Biello and Dan Martin, and performed in 2010 as part of Philadelphia Dance Projects' *Local Dance History Project.* Dancers: John Luna and Scott McPheeters. Photo by Brian Mengini.

Recipient

Grant Year 2009

Grant Amount $40,000

Status Completed

Updated May 30, 2023

The Local Dance History Project examined the development of contemporary dance in Philadelphia through the work of five dance and movement artists who were among the first to explore postmodern, improvisation, and performance genres in the city during the late 1970s and early '80s. Composer Dan Martin and dancers Michael Biello, Jano Cohen, Terry Fox, and Ishmael Houston Jones, originally presented a 1980 performance at the Harold Prince Theater at the Annenberg Center for Performing Arts, which was later featured in the publication Dance & Dancers. The same five artists reunited to reconstruct their work, which was performed in this iteration by young Philadelphia dance artists as part of the "Philadelphia Dance Projects Presents" season in 2010. A catalog entitled Re-Generation was published to commemorate the Local Dance History Project, with photos and commentary by the 18 artists who participated in the reconstruction.

Recipient

Philadelphia Dance Projects

Philadelphia Dance Projects (PDP) supports contemporary dance through projects that encourage artists and audiences to more fully participate and engage in the experience and pursuit of dance as an evolving form. PDP began as a three-year mentoring project (1993–95) under the aegis of Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. Today, the organization serves the regional performance community and works to build and sustain an audience for contemporary dance in Philadelphia through a range of presenting programs, classes, and workshops.

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