Making American Street Dancer
Hip-Hop
"Thrilling, educational and unexpectedly moving. Commissioned as part of [Rennie] Harris’ three-year residency with Penn Live Arts, American Street Dancer celebrates vibrant and varied traditions of community music and dance.” The Philadelphia Inquirer
Take a look behind the scenes at the development of American Street Dancer, the smash success by our artist-in-residence, Rennie Harris, that had its world premiere in March 2025. In this video, Harris and Christopher Gruits, our Executive & Artistic Director, share more about this multi-year residency and ongoing partnership. Plus, hear from Harris and his collaborators as they reflect on the cultural legacy of community dance styles across the country and offer insight into the creative process behind the powerful piece. Read more...
5 Questions with Rennie Harris
Hip-Hop
He’s called “the most brilliant hip-hop choreographer in America,” (
The New Yorker) and we know his upcoming performance will live up to such lofty acclaim.
Rennie Harris Puremovement returns April 1 with a program of works including some that directly reflect on the current tragedies facing our nation. So, we were very eager to learn more about this beloved Philadelphian and discover all he’s working on right now in just 5 Questions.
1. What role does the dancer have in today's world?
Dancers are what I call physical historians. Dancers hold the information of choreographers past and the present. It is their job to tell the story of the choreographer and to do so by manifesting the choreographer’s ideas and thoughts into a physical reality (on stage) for all to see. Without the dancer, the ideas of a choreographer will remain an idea or theory. Read more...
