“They’re saying, ‘J.B. is going to kill us!'” That’s what the Philadanco dancers are chortling about artistic director Joan Myers Brown — or so she good-naturedly claims. “Aunt Joan,” as she has also been called, has been pushing and prodding and loving her young charges for 40 years.
Today she’s not in her office when I call because she ran to the grocery story to buy some bread for a special early morning breakfast. “This is the place to work!” comments her assistant, Ingrid, with an enthusiasm regarded as the trademark of this Philadelphia company.
The latest seriously cheerful affront from her dancers arose over the program for the August Wilson Center this weekend. Officially it begins with “Ritornello” by Gene Hill Sagan, followed by “Philadelphia Experiment” from hip hop artist and fellow Philadelphian Rennie Harris and Christopher Huggins’ “Enemy Behind the Gates.”
But first we tackle the world premiere that the company is offering Pittsburgh’s newest arts venue. The piece turns out to be a triple threat in that it’s also a commission to celebrate not only the company’s 40th anniversary, but Myers Brown’s leadership. “And fifty years for the school — pretty good for a 39-year old,” she quips.
“Jawole’s work is not what it started out to be,” states the glamorous 77-year old with a penchant for
gold earrings and straight talk. (Her bio reads “she speaks out, talks back and shows up.”) Choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar originally intended to create a work about celebrated American contralto and civil rights advocate Marian Anderson. But on the train to Philadelphia, she decided to do something “more exciting” for the 40th.
Zollar, artistic director of “Urban Bush Women,” was evidently in a retro state of mind. So she dipped into the ’70’s and came up with “By Way of the Funk,” intended as a celebration “to honor the legacy of achievement of Joan Myers Brown & Philadanco.”
Myers Brown goes on to explain that Sagan’s “Ritornello” is “a nice, light opening. We don’t want to hit the audience over the head in the beginning, but, from there on in, it’s Philadanco style.” Harris’ work, which so successfully brings street dance to the concert stage, always hits home with audiences. This piece was inspired by a series of MOVE confrontations with police in Philadelphia, where ultimately six adults and five children were killed when police bombed their home.
And she says of Huggins, “He has become, more or less, furniture — he comes with the place now. “Enemy” at the time became a hit . Now I say it’s my ‘Revelations.” Myers Brown refers to Alvin Ailey’s iconic gospel ballet that still ends virtually every performance for the Ailey company. “People always want [“Enemy”] and ask for it to be on the program.”
It may be hard evening for the dancers, but Philadanco is noted for its work ethic. Myers Brown has developed a top-notch professional reputation for her company. Up until now she always complained about losing her dancers — recently two women went to Broadway’s “The Color Purple” and “Wicked” and another man to Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas.
But no more.
“They’re chasing the dollars — the kids are trying to pay off their college debts,” she begins. “You know, if I was 22 and had the opportunity, I would do the same thing. So I say, ‘Come back in two years when your debt is paid.”
By the nature of the artistically-satisfying, but monetarily-challenged Philadanco beast, some dancers think they can join the company for a short time and use it as a quick stepping stone.
Myers Brown will have none of that, firmly saying that “some dancers are so busy being technicians that they lose the passion for dance.” So she asks them, “What else are you going to give me? Everyone can get their leg up over their heads. Everyone can do a triple pirouette and stop on a dime.” With a practiced eye, she looks at a roomful of hopefuls and selects the ones that regard dance as “life’s work, not just a job.” Now she has a second company, Danco2, and a student group, Danco3, armed with “dancers moving up the ladder and being prepared to move in.”
So the process goes on. Myers Brown talks about spending more time with her six grandchildren (one is already cooing over the phone in her office) and doing some traveling “without 20 kids with me.”
But then, there’s always breakfast to plan…
For more information on the Philadanco performances Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., go to the August Wilson Center website.
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