Experience the ultimate dance-sampler of what’s new and bold. Eight rising Philly choreographers have been commissioned to stage eight major new works for the Festival. Come see their creations in four separate programs: Megan Mazarick and Meg Foley (Program A), Olive Prince and Shavon Norris (Program B—below), Daniele Strawmyre and Jaamil Olawale Kosoko (Program C), Jumatatu Poe and Eun Jung Choi (Program D).

Program B

I desire
Olive Prince (Olive Prince Dance)

"I am intrigued by the idea of people in our society being a commodity, a thing, an object that is made by outside forces."
Olive Prince, choreographer of I desire

When our bodies become machines, our deepest desires are what disappear first. Flesh turns to steel and individuality is left to rot. Some people are herded like cattle, and some get tossed out like used plastic wrap—all are forced to forget their whispered longings. Secrets unfold in I desire, a montage of movement that whisks you off the assembly line and dares you to ask what you want.

Choreography Olive Prince Sound and Score Christopher B. Farrell Set Designer Mark Andrews Lighting Design Catherine Lee Costume Design Heidi Barr Understudies Caroline O'Brien and Maria Nguyen Administrative and Marketing Support Robert Wuss Performers Nora Gibson, Marie Brown, Lindsay Browning, Olive Prince

To read blog articles about this artist, click here.

the body in lines
Shavon Norris

“I believe there is information retained in the body. My work tries to dig that information up.”
Shavon Norris, choreographer of the body in lines

What are the stories hidden in our bones? Beliefs, concepts, and precepts planted in our childhood years grow as we grow—not in straight lines but in knots and mazes, begging to be emotionally, spiritually, and physically unraveled. Using the African-American tradition of testifying, the dancers move and speak their stories, revealing the frustration and hope that comes from living with a body subject to the world’s definitions and thinking.

Choreographer Shavon Norris Performers Mina Estrada, Kemal C. Nance, Les Rivera

Post-show discussion moderated by Craig T. Peterson, director, Live Arts Brewery (LAB), following the performance on September 9.

To read blog articles about this artist, click here.

Olive Prince makes dance to inspire, provoke, ask questions, and make sense of her experience in the changing contemporary world. She is a dancer, educator, and choreographer who holds a BA in Children's Rights and Public Policy from William Smith College and a MFA in dance from Temple University. Her choreography has been presented at numerous locations including the nEW Festival, the International Contemporary Dance Conference in Poland, Dance Ensemble Singapore commission by the junior company, and as a resident artist at Susan Hess Choreographer's Project in Philadelphia. As a professional dancer, she enjoys performing as a company member with Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers, Merian Soto Performance Practice, and Cardell Dance Theater. She also continues to develops her artistry as an Assistant Teaching Professor in Dance at Drexel University.

Shavon Norris is an artist, educator and performer. Originally from New York City, she received her BA from Manhattanville College where she majored in Biology and a her MFA in dance from Temple University. Shavon uses interdisciplinary methods of creation and development to investigate and expose what has been witnessed, inherited, remembered and experienced. Shavon’s work has been presented at venues throughout Philadelphia and New York. As an educator, Shavon teaches school age children to college students, locally and nationally. Presently, Shavon teaches at Independence Charter School and Dance Alchemy. Shavon’s artistic and educational philosophies are rooted in the desire to give herself, students, performers and audiences opportunities to deepen the understanding of self and the collective.