Twyla Tharp, Urban Bush Women & More Set for Annenberg Center's 2015-16 Dance Season

Annenberg Center Live has unveiled a dance season that includes a quintet of diverse artists celebrating the wide landscape of dance in modern times. The new series begins with a one-two punch of a rare local appearance by Urban Bush Women (October 22-24) and Twyla Tharp's 50th Anniversary Tour (October 30-November 1) and continues in 2016 with performances from Ballet Hispanico (February 5-6), Dance Theatre of Harlem (March 3-5) and Meredith Rainey Dance (April 1-2). Tickets and more information are available online at AnnenbergCenter.org.

Dance @ Annenberg Center Live begins as Dance Celebration, the Annenberg Center's joint programming venture with Dance Affiliates ends. With this new series, the Annenberg Center's dance programming continues to bring high quality artists to the stage with a line-up that celebrates cultural diversity and artistic excellence.

About the 15/16 Dance Season

October 22 - 24, 2015
Urban Bush Women

Urban Bush Women use cultural expression as a catalyst for social change. The ensemble of seven women weave contemporary dance, music and text with the history, culture and spiritual traditions of the African diaspora. Bold and demanding, their works challenge long-held assumptions about women, people of color, body types and styles of movement. Urban Bush Women, celebrating their 30th Anniversary, was founded by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar who trained with Joseph Stevenson, a student of the legendary Katherine Dunham. In 1980, she moved to New York City to study with Dianne McIntyre at Sounds in Motion. Their program includes 30th Anniversary Mash Up, which celebrates iconic moments in their work, and Black Swan, choreographed by Nora Chipaumire.

October 30 - November 1, 2015
Twyla Tharp
50th Anniversary Tour

Legendary choreographer Twyla Tharp celebrates 50 years of dance with this special engagement of new works opening with the vibrant Fanfare followed by Preludes and Fugues, a spirited piece set to Bach, and Yowzie, a humorous work set to a raucous and jazzy score. Known for her beloved works for film, television and the Broadway stage, Tharp leads a meticulously rehearsed ensemble to bring her lively choreography to life with immaculate technique and pure joy.

February 5 - 6, 2016
Ballet Hispanico

Classical and contemporary dance with Latin flair. "One of the best contemporary repertory ensembles," according to The New York Times, Ballet Hispanico fuses its Latino roots with an eclectic, sleekly modern style. Theatricality and passion propel every move.

March 3 - 5, 2016
Dance Theatre of Harlem

Dance Theatre of Harlem performs exceptional ballet masterpieces around the world. The iconic company brings unprecedented relevance to classical ballet with cutting-edge new works and beloved masterpieces performed by some of the most beautiful and exceptionally-trained dancers around.

April 1 - 2, 2016
Meredith Rainey Dance

The season concludes with Philadelphia-based choreographer and former Pennsylvania Ballet soloist Meredith Rainey's return to the stage in (In)Visible Man, a new collaboration with Jorge Cousineau and Tania Isaac. Through a mix of playful satire and flowing movement, the ensemble piece examines individual and collective ideas of identity as it pertains to culture, sexuality and race, taking inspiration from Rainey's own life of paradoxes.

Urban Bush Women, Dance Theatre of Harlem and Meredith Rainey Dance are part of African Roots, American Voices, Annenberg Center Live's multi-year journey that celebrates the African diaspora's unique contributions to American culture. Each year focuses on a different musical genre, exploring its roots and cultural impact. The 15/16 season will focus on jazz, a wholly-original American art form. Jazz is unpredictable, it's bold, and it's a conversation. As Louis Armstrong said, "If you have to ask what jazz is, you'll never know."

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