Considered "cultural ambassadors," the company is often asked to take Liberty Bell pins and plates as souvenirs of the city.
"We're not only representative of Americans but African Americans - and Pennsylvania and Philadelphia. We've also been asked to participate in various festivals in Korea as representatives of the United States," said Joan Myers Brown, executive artistic director who founded the modern dance company in 1970 after launching a West Philadelphia dance school in 1960. Listed in Who's Who in America and holding a host of other credits - including founder of the International Association for Blacks in Dance in 1991 and the International Conference of Black Dance Companies two years earlier - Brown has made a deep impact as a trailblazer in both the national and international arts communities.
Noting that her dance school is the forerunner of the company, Ms. Brown says that the two are frequently confused.
"Here in Philly, many think of PHILADANCO! as a school in West Philadelphia. Outside of the city, they think of us as an amazing dance company." When asked which is correct, she says, "I think PHILADANCO! is an amazing dance company that has a dance school."
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Ms. Brown thought that she needed not only to give something back, but give something back to the community.
"I wanted high-level dancing .... I wanted them to learn the craft of dance," said Ms. Brown, 75, whose office walls are lined with photos of herself as a young woman dancing with Sammy Davis Jr. and other stars. From her own experience as a dancer, she has learned the importance of pure entertainment.
"A lot of audience members are puzzled by dance, and I want them to enjoy dance and feel good about the experience when they leave," she said.
Brown also instills a high level of discipline in her dancers and adds that dance has taught her perseverance. "I don't have dance; dance has me," she says, stressing her commitment to her hometown.
"There's so much going on all the time. I like Philadelphia," she says, despite the challenges of racial issues that affect her life and work - particularly her sense of inequity in funding.
"I keep saying, 'take me out of the colored drawer and put us in the cultural drawer," she adds, lamenting a recent funding cut, which she had earmarked as airfare for the European tour.
"My greatest wish is that Philly at large would recognize what a gemstone PHILADANCO! is to the city and how we represent Philadelphia abroad," said Kim Bears-Bailey, assistant artistic director who retired in 2000 after 19 years as a company member. Earlier this month, she was honored as one of 10 who received a 2007 Rocky Award during the local dance community's annual peer-to-peer celebration.
"We have to support our own. Survival is hard out here .... I would love Joan to go into a house that's full every night," Ms. Bears-Bailey said, stressing that local support will keep the company flourishing.
The travel is exhausting, but company member Jay Staten says that adrenaline kicks in once the dancers are on stage. He also describes the rock-star status that PHILADANCO! enjoys in many other cities, with fans waiting to greet them and reciting details from their bios.
Also serving as artistic director of D/3 - the new children's ensemble noted in Dance Magazine and other publications - Staten adds that the group, which appeared during the last few months at the Kimmel Center and Penns Landing, is similarly learning to adapt to different stages sizes. While maintaining an awareness of their childhood, he is trying to create an accurate experience of the discipline required to dance. Then, if the children decide to pursue a professional career, Mr. Staten says that they'll be fully prepared.
"If they get into the company, they'll already know how to handle it at the top of their game," he said.
Donald Lunsford is the artistic director of D/2, the company's pre-professional ensemble of 16- to 28-year-old dancers. D/2 appears in approximately 25 local and area performances.
"Anything affiliated with Joan and PHILADANCO! is the cream of the crop. She doesn't accept anything less," Ms. Bears-Bailey says.
"We are a company that works 52 weeks per year. We tour approximately 40 weeks a year, but we rehearse 20 hours each week. So we do what most companies do in a 40-hour week in 20 hours," Mr. Staten explained.
Ms. Bears-Bailey and Mr. Staten, both from Washington, D.C., describe the company's strong "family unit" and their deep admiration for their mentor, who has created opportunities for dancers to work in other areas of the field during - and after - their careers on stage.
"PHILADANCO! will be 40 years old in 2010," notes Brown, who works 15-hour days to keep the company going. "When the audience stands to their feet to applaud, I say, 'that's why I do this.'"
For more information about PHILADANCO! and details about upcoming performances, visit www.philadanco.org.
Andrea K. Hammer is the founder and director of Artsphoria: Celebrating Arts Euphoria (www.artsphoria.com).
Artist Access
Oct. 12-13, 8 p.m.
$23; members: $11.50
Painted Bride Art Center
230 Vine Street
215 925-9914
World-class dance company Philadanco has performed on the Painted Bride's stage for more than 37 years. In the last decade, the company's annual Bride concerts have debuted work created and performed by their apprentice company, Danco on Danco. These young choreographers create more than 10 ballets and develop their choreographic, technical, costume design and performance skills during a six-week period. For additional details, see www.paintedbride.org.