|
I have been active in the arts and performance worlds as an arts advocate and board member and as a performer. I have participated in more than a dozen dance performances since around 1990 with choreographers including Leah Stein (no relation), David Koplowitz (Fenestrations at 30th St. Station), Headlong Dance Theater (Cell in Live Arts Festival and in New Haven’s Intern’l Festival of Arts and Ideas), Megan Mazarick, and Jerome Bel (The Show Must Go On, in Sept. 2008 Live Arts Festival).
I was a founding board member and later Councilman David Cohen’s appointee to the Board of the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, and on past boards or advisory boards of groups including the Painted Bride Arts Center, Village of Arts and Humanities, World Film Festival, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, and Philadelphia Dance Projects.
My 40 years of unique practice at Community Legal Services on behalf of low-income people in the Philadelphia region and nationally has allowed me to be at the forefront of social change and reform while pursuing a broad range of avenues of advocacy and representation. I have represented and worked closely with many community, city-wide, state and national organizations of the poor, elderly and disabled; initiated legislative and administrative reform at local, state and federal levels; and successfully conducted trial and appellate litigation in state and federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court. Also, my advocacy has included extensive work with the media, coalition-building, presentations at national and regional conferences and seminars and cooperative efforts with law schools and law firms.
As representative examples of legal advocacy, such work has included:
—reforming the entire federal program for SSI disabled children via the 1990 United States Supreme Court Sullivan v. Zebley case (the largest class action against the Social Security Administration), which changed 20 years of regulations and extended SSI benefits, necessities of life and Medicaid, to over 500,000 additional low income, disabled children with additional annual expenditures of over $5 billion, while awarding retroactive benefits to 153,000 others back to 1980;
—securing federal constitutional rights of legally resident aliens to state government benefits after my oral argument in the United States Supreme Court, Graham v. Richardson (1971);
—counsel to the Philadelphia Welfare Rights Organization in securing unprecedented expansions and reforms of the Philadelphia School District’s Lunch and Breakfast Programs where all children in over 200 schools are entitled to free meals without a means test (Universal Service remains unique to the Philadelphia School District in the nation);
—obtaining the nation’s first federal Childhood Lead Paint Poisoning Prevention Act in 1971 and liability for HUD and PHA caused lead poisoning;
—helping to expose in the media and in Congress, and enjoining via federal class actions the Reagan Administration’s mass terminations of a half million Social Security disability beneficiaries in the early 80’s and obtaining Federal Court and Congressional reinstatement of benefits to victims, and permanent protections for beneficiaries via the Social Security Disability Reform Act of 1984;
—establishing the first federal constitutional employment right against discrimination toward the disabled via successful representation of a blind school teacher, Gurmankin v. Costanzo;
—successfully obtaining in Federal Court housing civil rights litigation the construction of 120 integrated homes in the Whitman section of South Philadelphia against the opposition of then Mayor Rizzo and the Nixon Administration, with first ever findings of intentional race discrimination by Mayor Rizzo and the City Philadelphia, Resident Advisory Board v. Rizzo;
—reform of municipal gas (PGW) and water department utilities to establish for the first time due process in rate setting and in terminations of utility services for hundreds of thousands of low income customers; and
—constituting the catalyst and advocacy source for the nationally unprecedented agreement between Pennsylvania Governor Rendell and the state’s four Blue Cross Plans to allocate close to $1 billion in Blue Cross funds for low income charitable health needs, and for the first time to the state’s Adult Basic health insurance program, saving it from extinction.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES, INC.
1424 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102-2505
General Counsel 1986 - Present
Executive Director 1983-1986
Chief of Special Projects 1978-1983
Acting Managing Attorney, Law Center North Central 1981
Chief of Law Reform 1973-1978
Chief of Health, Education and Welfare Project 1970-1973
Staff Attorney (Smith Community Lawyer Fellow) 1968-1970
EDUCATION
1968 Research Student, London School of Economics (U.K.)
1967 University of Pennsylvania Law School, LL.B.
1964 Columbia College, B.A.
BAR/COURT ADMISSIONS
1969 New York State Bar
1969 Pennsylvania Bar
United States Supreme Court and Third Circuit and District Court. E.D. PA
BAR, COURT RELATED ACTIVITIES
1996-2002 Member, American Law Institute
1985 Third Circuit Court of Appeals Task Force on Court Awarded Attorney’s Fees, appointed by Chief Judge Aldisert.
1983-1986 Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention of Philadelphia Bar Association.
1978 Founder, Pennsylvania Judicial Selection Project to increase numbers of minorities and women on the judiciary.
HONORS
2007 Bread and Roses Community Fund, 30th Anniversary Tribute to Change Honoree
2006 Bread and Roses Community Fund, Paul Robeson Social Justice Award for efforts with Philadelphia Community Access Coalition to establish Public Access cable television in Philadelphia
2000 Atlantic Fellowship in Public Policy, national selection by British Council, U.K., for work and research in London, 2000-2001.
2000 Benjamin Gowen Graduate Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania Law School, for research in London
1997 Advocacy in Public Policy Award, The ARC of the United States (formerly Association for Retarded Citizens).
1996 Fitzpatrick Leadership Award, Montgomery County (PA) Association for Retarded Citizens.
1993 Windcall Resident Program, Bozeman, MT, national selection for demonstrated long-term commitment to social change.
1992 Reginald Heber Smith Award, annual award of the National Legal Aid and Defender Association, for lifetime achievements and Zebley SSI childhood disability United States Supreme Court case.
1992 Advocacy Award for Advancing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems.
1990 Edward V. Sparer Award, first recipient of the Pennsylvania Legal Services Center on behalf of all Legal Services programs in Pennsylvania.
1986 Gerald F. Flood Memorial Award of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, as then Executive Director of Community Legal Services.
1982 Philadelphia Citizens in Action Outstanding Legal Services Award.
1976 Philadelphia Blind Merchant’s Guild Award, for alleviating discrimination against the blind and winning nation’s first blind teacher employment discrimination suit.
1968 Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer Fellowship, national selection by U.S. Office of Economic Opportunity, Legal Services Program.
1967 Benjamin Gowen Graduate Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania Law School, to attend London School of Economics as research student.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Op-Ed Columns (over 50) for Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Patriot-News (Harrisburg, PA), The Forward (New York City), and other newspapers, Fall 2001 to present.
The Future of Social Justice in Britain: A New Mission for the Community Legal Services, CASEpaper 48, monograph published by London School of Economics, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (2001).
“The Right to a Hearing Before Termination of Benefits and the Human Rights Act,” 8 Journal of Social Security Law 146 (Oct. 2001) (Sweet & Maxwell pub., Univ. of Manchester School of Law editors).
“The Community Legal Service needs a social justice mission,” 151 New Law Journal 998 (July 6,2001) (London).
“The Community Legal Service: justice for all?”, 11 Consumer Policy Review 34 (Mar./Apr. 2001) (London).
“A new deal for low birth weight babies,” Maternity Action p.6 (Winter 2001) (London) (with L. Reith and J. McLeish).
"Poor Can’t Bank on this Merger," Guest Opinion, Philadelphia Daily News, March 6, 1998 (adverse impacts of First Union/CoreStates merger).
"Real Crime: Scarcity of Services," Guest Opinion, Philadelphia Daily News, June 26, 1997 (lack of mental health services for Latino poor) (with Richard Weishaupt)
"A Mindless Mantra Goes UMMMM," Guest Opinion, Philadelphia Daily News, January 26, 1996 (critique of "unfunded mandate" proposals).
"The Water Department Needs an Agency to Regulate Services," Op-Ed, Philadelphia Inquirer, November 2, 1993.
"Placing School Lunch and Breakfast Programs Back on the Advocacy Menu," 24 Clearinghouse Review 1358 (April 1991).
"Supreme Court’s Zebley Decision will Greatly Expand Eligibility for SSI Childhood Disability Benefits and Medicaid," 24 Clearinghouse Review 229 (July 1990) (with Richard Weishaupt).
"A Sign of the Times, or Why We are Winning Fewer Disability Cases," 15 Clearinghouse Review 24 (May 1981) (with Richard Weishaupt).
"An Overview of the Lead Abatement Program Response to the Silent Epidemic," in Low Level Lead Exposure: The Clinical Implications of Current Research, 279 (H.L. Needleman, ed. 1980).
"Public Legal Programs: A Team Approach," in A Design for Social Work Practice (Columbia Univ. Press, 1974) (with Toby Golick).
"Eligibility Determinations in Public Assistance: Selected Problems and Proposals for Reform in Pennsylvania," 115 U. Pa.L.Rev. 1307 (1967).
Numerous other articles and notes have been published in the Clearinghouse Review of the National Clearinghouse for Legal Services; Pennsylvania Legal Services Review; The Legal Intelligencer; and Pennsylvania Law Journal-Reporter, as well as op-Eds, letters to the editor, and book reviews in the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Tribune, and letters to the editor in the New York Times, Atlantic Monthly and Forbes Media Critic.
SELECTED ORGANIZATIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Member, Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission, 2002-2003 (City Council appointee)
Member, National Academy of Social Insurance, 1999
Mayor John Street Arts and Culture Transition Committee, 2000
National Juror, Heinz Awards, Human Condition Award, Heinz Family Foundations, 1997 to 2000; Public Policy Award 2006-present (appointed by Teresa Heinz)
Founding Board Member, City of Philadelphia Cultural Fund (also serving as Chairman of Fund’s Dance Panel), 1992-1996; appointed representative of Councilman David Cohen to Board, 2001 to 2006.
Advisory Board, Painted Bride Culture Center, 2001
Advisory Board, Village of Arts and Humanities, 2002
Board, Philadelphia Dance Projects, 1995 to present
Advisory Committee, Philadelphia World Film Festival, 1992 to 1997
Board, Community Director, Greater Philadelphia Culture Alliance (served on Policy Committee), 1990-92
Advisory Committee, Pennsylvania Bureau of Disability Determinations, 1989-95
Advisory Committee, Ellen Forman Memorial Dance Fellowship, 1994 to 2000
Board, Pennsylvania Legal Services Center, 1983-1986.
Board, Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia, 1983.
Board, Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyer Action Program, 1983-1986.
Board, South Street Dance Company (a past President), 1980-1984.
Board, Wilma Theater, 1979-1981.
DANCE PERFORMANCES
“Barack, Hillary and Indecision,” solo created and performed in Moving Monologues workshop facilitated by Headlong Dance Theater, performed at Studio 34, April 2008.
“Roadkill,” choreographed by Megan Mazarick in New Festival, University of the Arts Drake Theater, Jan. 2008.
“Cell” site specific performance in buildings and on streets of Olde City of the Headlong Dance Theater company, commissioned by the Live Arts Festival, Philadelphia, Sept. 2006 (reviewed by the New York Times, 9/16/06); later commissioned by International Festival of Arts and Ideas, and re-set in New Haven, Conn., June 2007.
“Cornerstone,” site specific performance at Christ Church, colonial burial ground, in Philadelphia Fringe Festival, choreographed by Leah Stein (no relation), Sept. 2004.
"Junebug," outdoor performance in Bartram Gardens, choreographed by Leah Stein, June 1997
Bartram Gardens performance choreographed by Leah Stein, June 1996.
"Return," an outdoor performance along Manayunk Canal choreographed by Leah Stein, 1995.
"Interferences...," by Terry Fox as part of 25th Anniversary celebration at Painted Bride, Fall 1994.
"Departures," an outdoor performance in Fairmount Park choreographed by Leah Stein, June 1993.
"Fenestrations," by New York choreographer, David Koplowitz, within the windowed walls of 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, presented by New York’s Dancing in the Streets, Fall 1991.
Performance and installation work, "What is at Stake," choreographed by Asimina Chremos, at the Great Hall, University of the Arts, March 1991.
"Stirring," choreographed by Galuh Soedjatmoko at the Community Education Center and at Group Motion Studios, May 1990.
More articles by Jonathan M. Stein, newest first
| ‘Red Hot Patriot’: Kathleen Turner as Molly Ivins (2nd review) |
March 30 2010 |
The impassioned portrayal of Molly Ivins by Kathleen Turner vividly brings to the stage the columnist’s sharp political critiques and belly-laugh mockery of those in power.
Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins. By Margaret Engel and Allison Engel; directed by David Esbjornson. Philadelphia Theatre Co. world premiere through April 25, 2010 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St. (at Lombard). (215) 985-0420 or www.philadelphiatheatrecompany.org.
|
|
| ‘Language Rooms’ at the Wilma (3rd review) |
March 23 2010 |
In this brilliant dark comedy, the Egyptian-American playwright Yussef El Guindi addresses American paranoia toward outsiders as perhaps only a talented outsider/immigrant artist could do, enhanced by Blanka Zizka’s coherent direction and Wilma’s dependable, high-quality production supports.
Language Rooms. By Yussef El Guindi; directed by Blanka Zizka (world premiere). Through April 4, 2010 at Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St. (at Spruce). (215) 546-7824 or www.wilmatheater.org.
|
|
| New Zealand's Black Grace at the Kimmel |
March 02 2010 |
In a memorable performance, the thrilling and brilliantly executed New Zealand company Black Grace integrated many aspects of modern dance with Samoan and South Pacific indigenous dance forms. The result was no cut-and-paste assemblage, but a new art form.
Black Grace. Neil Ieremia, choreographer/director. February 26-27 at Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce Sts. For video, visit kimmelcenter.org/events/special/0910/kcp/dance.html.
|
|
| Elizabeth Streb’s ‘Brave’ at Annenberg (4th review) |
February 09 2010 |
Elizabeth Streb is a charismatic, kinetic physicist who plumbs the stripped-down elements of dance movement: space, time and especially energy. Her movement “actions” are presented without the baggage of what many expect from dance, such as narrative, metaphoric representations of the body, eye-appealing forms and grace.
Brave. Choreographed by Elizabeth Streb. February 5-6, 2010 at Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St.
(215) 898.3900 or www.pennpresents.org/tickets.
|
|
| The Pew Fellowships go top-down |
November 14 2009 |
Under a visionary program, since 1991 the Pew Fellowships have distributed $12 million directly to 237 outstanding and singular artists, many of whom would have been overlooked by establishment "experts" if not allowed to submit their own applications. But under the Pew’s newly announced procedures, deserving artists must wait to be anointed by a panel of 30 anonymous nominators. If there’s a good reason for this change, the Pew hasn’t revealed it.
|
|
| SCRAP’s ‘Tide’ at Live Arts Festival |
October 05 2009 |
Myra Bazell and Madison Cario’s apocalyptic Tide was danced with such energetic angst that it lost its creators' hopeful message of the potential for healing and a new consciousness.
Tide. Choreography by Myra Bazell and Madison Cario. SCRAP Performance Group/ Live Arts Festival. September 4-7, 2009 at ICE Box Projects Space, 1400 N. American St. (215) 413-9006 or www.livearts-fringe.org/details.cfm?id=7649.
|
|
| Dorner’s ‘above under inbetween’ at Live Arts Festival |
October 05 2009 |
The Austrian choreographer Willi Dorner brought his explorations of bodies in space indoors, presenting a slyly humorous work that suggested that we relate more closely to the objects in our domestic lives than we think.
Above under inbetween. Compagnie Willi Dorner/ Live Arts festival production September 11-12, 2009 at ICE Box Projects Space, 1400 N. American St. 215.413.9006 or www.livearts-fringe.org/details.cfm?id=8370.
|
|
| Merián Soto’s ‘Postcards from the Woods’ at Live Arts Festival |
October 02 2009 |
After cavorting outdoors for years, Merián Soto and her dedicated dancers enabled an indoor audience to experience a meditative connection to nature outside.
Postcards From the Woods. Merián Soto Performance Practice/ Live Arts Festival. September 16-19, 2009 at ICE BOX Projects Space, 1400 N. American St. (215) 413.9006 or www.livearts-fringe.org/details.cfm?id=8372.
|
|
| ‘Hermitage’ at Philadelphia Fringe Festival |
September 29 2009 |
New York's legendary Collyer brothers hoarded 180 tons of materials in their Harlem mansion by the time of their deaths in 1947. Frederick Anderson’s Hermitage offers a sympathetic view of two men who withdraw psychologically as their urban neighborhood changes demographically.
Hermitage: The Strange Story of the Ghost Men of Harlem. Written and directed by Frederick Andersen. Philadelphia Fringe Festival production September 5-13, 2009 at Plays and Players Theatre, 1724 Delancey Place. (215) 413.9006 or www.pafringe.com/details.cfm?id=8990.
|
|
| ‘Microworld(s)’ and ‘Digital Effects’ at Fringe Festival. |
September 29 2009 |
In Microworld(s), the last resident of a Tokyo apartment tower provides a metaphor for the ways our humanity survives within modernity’s inhuman structures. In Digital Effects Steve Cuiffo takes the magician’s art into the post-modern realm.
Microworld(s), Part 1. Written and performed by Thaddeus Phillips. Lucidity Suitcase Intercontinental production for Philadelphia Fringe Festival. September 4-19, 2009 at Painted Bride, 230 Vine St. (215) 413.9006 or www.pafringe.com/details.cfm?id=9067.
Digital Effects. Performed by Steve Cuiffo. Lucidity Suitcase Intercontinental production for Philadelphia Fringe Festival. September 4-19, 2009 at Painted Bride, 230 Vine St. (215) 413.9006 or www.pafringe.com/details.cfm?id=9252.
|
|
| ‘Annihilation Point’ at Fringe Festival |
September 29 2009 |
In The Annihilation Point, the lunatic crew from Time Mender productions offers a hectic array of fast-paced and unpredictable scenes of the future that generate almost continuous laughter.
The Annihilation Point. By Tim Sawicki; directed by Dan Rothenberg. Time Mender Productions at Philadelphia Fringe Festival. September 4-19, 2009 at Art Underground, Wolf Building, 34-0 N. 12th St. 215.413.9006 or www.pafringe.com/details.cfm?id=9170
|
|
| ‘small metal objects’ at Live Arts Festival |
September 29 2009 |
small metal objects ingeniously invites us to eavesdrop on an intimate personal conversation in the context of a crowded urban street.
small metal objects. Directed by Bruce Gladwin. Back to Back Theatre at Live Arts Festival. Sept. 16-19, 2009 at 40th Street Field, U. of Pennsylvania, between Walnut and Locust Sts. (215) 413.9006 or www.pafringe.com/details.cfm?id=6847.
|
|
| Whit MacLaughlin’s ‘Fatebook’ at Live Arts Festival (2nd review) |
September 26 2009 |
I approached Fatebook’s pre-production preparation with a degree of curmudgeonly skepticism. But I must admit: This show’s fashioning of original art out of the newest social media modes of communication is a groundbreaking step into a theater of the future.
Fatebook: Avoiding Catastrophe One Party at a Time. Created by Whit MacLaughlin and New Paradise Laboratories. Live Arts Festival production through September 19, 2009 at 919 N. Fifth St. (215) 413.1318 or www.pafringe.com/details.cfm?id=6854.
|
|
| Gombrowicz’s ‘Operetta’ at Live Arts Festival (2nd review) |
September 26 2009 |
This relic of the Soviet bloc seeks to detonate all ideologies, with uneven results for a contemporary audience that rarely sees such anarchic bombast on stage.
Operetta. By Witold Gombrowicz; directed by Michal Zadara. Production by Teatre Muzyczny Capitol of Wroclaw/ Live Arts Festival, September 10-13, 2009 at Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St. (at Spruce). 215.413.1318 or www.livearts-fringe.org/details.cfm?id=6891.
|
|
| ‘A.W.A.R.D. Show’ at Live Arts Festival |
September 22 2009 |
This year's Live Arts Festival went out on a limb by pitting 12 Philadelphia choreographers against each other for a $10,000 first prize. This gimmick boosted attendance and helped raise dance consciousness. But how does a popularity contest affect a collegial and creative community?
The A.W.A.R.D. Show 2009. Philadelphia Live Arts Festival. September 15-19, 2009 at Arts Bank, 601 S. Broad St. (at South). 215.413.9006 or www.livearts-fringe.org/details.cfm?id=7115.
|
|
| Headlong’s ‘more’ at Live Arts Festival (2nd review) |
September 21 2009 |
Headlong’s more juxtaposes the ordinariness of domestic life with the life of the artist. But what makes this dance and choreography— art that BSR's Jim Rutter has questioned— is that these meanings are communicated through bodies in and out of motion, and through movement gestures and movement vocabulary.
more. Headlong Dance Theater; choreographed by David Brick, Amy Smith and Andrew Simonet. Live Arts Festival production through September 14, 2009 at Arts Bank, 601 S. Broad St. (at South). (215) 413-1318 or www.livearts-fringe.org/details.cfm?id=7077.
|
|
| Melanie Stewart’s ‘Kill Me Now’ at Live Arts Festival |
September 08 2009 |
Choreographer Melanie Stewart and writer John Clancey seize on the pop-culture mania of dance contest shows to examine the sadistic role of competition in our society and in capitalism. To make their point, they enlist the audience as co-conspirators.
Kill Me Now. By John Clancey; choreographed by Melanie Stewart. Melanie Stewart Dance Theatre/ Live Arts Festival production September 4-7, 2009 at Arts Bank, 601 S. Broad St. (at South St.). 215.413.1318 or www.livearts-fringe.org/details.cfm?id=8371.
|
|
| Pig Iron’s ‘Welcome to Yuba City!’ at Live Arts Festival (1st review) |
September 08 2009 |
Pig Iron’s Welcome to Yuba City! lampoons the absurdity of America’s Western mythic culture while simultaneously displaying respect and affectionate empathy for its values— no easy feat in comic theater of this sort.
Welcome to Yuba City. By Deborah Stein; directed by Quinn Bauriedel; songs by Michael Friedman. Pig Iron Theatre Co. production (Live Arts Festival) through September 19, 2009 at The Hub, 626 N. Fifth St. (at Fairmount Ave.). (215) 413.1318 or www.livearts-fringe.org/details.cfm?id=6849.
|
|
| Kate Watson-Wallace’s ‘Store’ at Live Arts Festival |
September 08 2009 |
Kate Watson-Wallace’s “anonymous bodies” troupe brought its audience to an abandoned Rite-Aid pharmacy, now transformed into a set for a shopping network’s infomercial. The choreographed tight, manic rhythmic dancing contrasted tellingly with the surrounding consumer chaos.
Store. anonymous bodies, choreographed by Kate Watson-Wallace. Live Arts Festival production through September 9, 2009 at former Rite-Aid store, 4237 Walnut St. 215.413.1318 or www.livearts-fringe.org/details.cfm?id=6857.
|
|
| ‘Urban Scuba’ at Live Arts/Fringe Festival |
September 08 2009 |
In an abandoned Center City swimming pool, Brian Sanders’s visual assortment of dance theater magic brought the kind of performance energy to the Gershman Y that’s been missing there since its salad days in the ’60s.
Urban Scuba. Choreographed by Brian Sanders. Live Arts festival production through September 13, 2009 at Gershman YMHA, 401 S. Broad St. (at Pine). 215.413.1318 or www.livearts-fringe.org/details.cfm?id=8525.
|
|
| ‘Hidden City Philadelphia’ (3rd review) |
July 11 2009 |
Last month’s “Hidden City” performance sites not only revealed their secret pleasures to viewers but also presented themselves as a powerful constellation of art, architecture, history and lived human experience. In more cases than not, the historical site overwhelmed the artists’ engagement, but the result was still deliciously satisfying.
“Hidden City Philadelphia.” May 30-June 28, 2009 at various locations in Philadelphia. www.hiddencityphila.org.
|
|
| Megan Mazarick’s ‘Avatard’ |
May 02 2009 |
Megan Mazarick’s playful and imaginative Avatard joined the illusionistic cultures of video games and science fiction into a loopy mix.
Avatard. Choreography by Megan Mazarick. April 24-26, 2009 at Community Education Center, 3500 Lancaster Ave. (215) 387-1911 or www.cecarts.org.
|
|
| 'Dive into Dance' at Temple’s Conwell Theater |
March 10 2009 |
For her final magic trick in a month-long virtual festival of weekend dance programs and workshops, Terry Fox created an evening of unexpected synergy and excitement. With the Wilma’s “Dance BOOM!” series in limbo, I long to see Terry Fox working her magic during the other 11 months of the year.
“Dive into Dance.” Dance theatre X, Salt Horse, inkBoat, SCUBA National Touring Network for Dance, curated by Terry Fox for Philadelphia Dance Projects. February 27-28, 2009 at Conwell Theater, Temple University. (215) 546-2552 or www.philadanceprojects.org.
|
|
| Ellen Forman Memorial Concert |
October 07 2008 |
As founder of the South Street Dance Company in the early ’70s, the late Ellen Forman introduced Philadelphia to post-modern dance. The humor, romanticism and ebullience that marked her life and work were appropriately recalled in a studio dedication in her honor.
Ellen Forman Memorial Dance Studio opening. October 3, 2008 at Mandell Theater, Drexel University, 33rd and Chestnut Sts. (215) 895-2787 or www.drexel.edu/comad.
|
|
| Scrap’s ‘Tide’ at Fringe Festival (2nd review) |
September 23 2008 |
In Isaiah Zagar’s mosaic garden on South Street, dancers perilously climbed and danced off walls of embedded bottles and ceramics in the early evening, when subtle lighting added a mysterious glow to the performance.
Tide. Choreographed by Myra Bazell and Madison Cario. Presented by Scrap Performance Group, September 10-13, 2008 at Zagar’s Magic Garden, 1020 South St. (215) 917-3367 or http://www.scrap-performance.org.
|
|
| React/Dance’s South Philly Tour, at Fringe Festival |
September 23 2008 |
React/Dance, led by Jacelyn Biondo and Kristen Shahverdian, took its dancers and audience on a tour of South Philly, with nary a chic restaurant or much of a sign of gentrification in sight.
React/Dance: South Philly Neighborhood Adventure Tours, Part 1. September 7-12, 2008 from 18th and Fernon Sts. http://www.livearts-fringe.org/details.cfm?id=5603
|
|
| ‘The Giant Squid’ at Fringe Festival |
September 23 2008 |
In a brilliant and very funny faux science lecture demonstration, the “class” discovers the life, times and sex life of a 600-ton squid that weighs "the same as the Norwegian Parliament."
The Giant Squid. By Tim Sawicki; Adrienne Mackey directed. Team Broom (Squid Inc.) presentation August 29-September 13, 2008 at Disque Hall, Drexel University, 32nd and Chestnut St. http://www.livearts-fringe.org/details.cfm?id=5469
|
|
| ‘Car’ at Fringe Festival |
September 23 2008 |
In Car, director/choreographer Kate Watson-Wallace took audiences of three or four in a car ride within a parking garage— an ambitious, aggressive and sometimes violent experiment.
Car. Choreography by Kate Watson-Wallace and Anonymous Bodies. August 29-September 13, 2008 at 40th at Parking Garage #40, 40th and Walnut Streets. http://www.livearts-fringe.org/details.cfm?id=2872
|
|
| Keila Cordova’s ‘Janet 2.0’ at Fringe Festival |
September 23 2008 |
Keila Cordova’s political send-up was smart, amusing and prescient too, given Sarah Palin’s sudden ascent.
Janet 2.0 and The Weather Project. Keila Cordova Dances. September 7, 2008 at Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St. http://www.livearts-fringe.org/details.cfm?id=5396
|
|
| Leah Stein’s ‘Urban Echo’ at Fringe Festival |
September 23 2008 |
Urban Echo: Circle Told was perhaps the most transfixing event of Philadelphia’s recent Fringe Festival: a brilliant melding of two different generations of artists who share defining commitments to improvisation, as well as a spiritual connection between their creative souls and their external environments.
Urban Echo: Circle Told. Leah Stein Dance Company and Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, Alan Harler, director. Music by Pauline Oliveros. September 6-13, 2008 at the Rotunda, 40th and Walnut Sts. http://www.livearts-fringe.org/details.cfm?id=3136
|
|
| Headlong’s ‘Hotel Pool’ in New York |
August 19 2008 |
Thanks to Headlong Dance Theater’s New York revival of its 2004 aqua dream play, Hotel Pool, we now have an alternative vision for the Michael Phelps Beijing pool experience, as well as, perhaps, an awareness of how the potential for sensual and pleasurable experiences can be denied amid the demands of commerce and competition.
Hotel Pool. Headlong Dance Theater presentation through August 16, 2008 at Rector Square, New York. (215) 545-1995 or My problem with Toby Zinman |
May 31 2008 |
I’m saddened by Toby Zinman’s joyless spirit and her apparent lack of enthusiasm in her reviews for the Inquirer— most recently the Wilma’s widely acclaimed production of Eurydice. And why does the Inquirer seem to take music more seriously than theater?
|
|
|
