Dance Theater’s performances often are humorous and inspired by pop culture and their fascination with human movement. Andrew Simonet, David Brick and Amy Smith, three college friends who founded Headlong in Philadelphia in 1993, use theatrical props, street clothes, and speech in their works, which honor movement in space. When a dancer was temporarily in a wheelchair from a broken bone, they incorporated the dancer and wheelchair into the performance. Their non-standard productions lie between dance and theatre and have garnered many kudos, and a Pew Fellowship (2006). More recently they have done some performances in galleries in response to art — at the ICA (for the Sheila Hicks exhibit) and at Dalet Gallery in Old City. Their upcoming 2012 Fringe Festival work is a collaboration with “citizen dancers.” The works will take place in the citizens’ homes and be metaphorical choreographies that reflect the life of the household.
This episode is edited by Peter Crimmins. The music is by Eric Biondo. Thanks to the Knight Foundation for helping us get the ball rolling on this project. Thanks also to J-Lab‘s Enterprise Reporting Fund and William Penn Foundation for additional support and to our partner WHYY NewsWorks for their ongoing support. You can listen to Artblog Radio on Apple and Spotify.
