The Month in Philly Dance: Philly Fringe 2025

Getting in on the fun

I love an audience participation show, so I will put these right up front! (Note, though, that all three venues require stairs or other access that presents mobility challenges.)

Anssumane Silla’ West African Drum and Dance Workout
September 7, 14, 21, and 28
Studio 34, 4522 Baltimore Avenue

Silla has been dancing since he was 11 years old in Guinea-Bissau and he is spellbinding. The show is fine for young audiences, but I’m looking forward to learning some West African dance steps as well.

Urban Movement Arts’ WORKINONIT
September 21
First Unitarian Church, 2125 Spruce Street

WORKINONIT celebrates Black American vernacular dance and music with sets of choreographed works between which the audience is invited to groove along and party. BSR’s Katherine Desimine has written about it here.

Miss Angie Goes Nauti: Burlesque Bingo Aboard
September 21
Gazela Primeiro, 301 South Christopher Columbus Boulevard

For grownups who enjoy their partying on the naughty side, Miss Angie has everything. It’s a dance party! It’s bingo! It’s burlesque! All on the deck of Philadelphia’s own tall ship. If you do not embarrass yourself, you are just not trying hard enough!

More of my Fringe

Look for my preview of Dancefusion’s Timeless, September 5 and 6, 2025, at the Performance Garage. And here are some of the other performances I am excited about.

Fay Driscoll’s Weathering
September 4-6
FringeArts, 104 South Christopher Columbus Boulevard

Weathering is 10 dancers entangling in a moving tableau on what looks like a melting iceberg spinning in the sea. Here’s a sneak peek. It’s the sort of thing that Fringe was made for!

Jessica Fudim’s Venomous
September 4 and 6
Icebox Project Space, 1400 North American Street

Fudim gives voice to Medusa, who was condemned to turn anyone who looked at her to stone. She's a contested character in myth—monster or victim—and I love the idea of exploring that in dance.

Helen Sher and Nell Adkins’s Within the Fall
September 5-7
Icebox Project Space, 1400 North American Street

The co-choreographers explore Jewish identity and queerness in the story of an arranged marriage and the ghost of a lost love, inspired by the play the Dybbuk. Passion and identity!

Blake Severin’s Labyrinth of the Other
September 6, 14, and 20
Icebox Project Space, 1400 North American Street

Another immersive piece exploring identity through the lens of myth—this time, the labyrinth of the Minotaur. I loved Severin as the narrator in the One Man Nutcracker and I’ve wanted to see more of the artist ever since.

Lian Long Xuan’s Ballad of Puppets
September 7 and 17
Icebox Project Space, 1400 North American Street

The description says, “even though in this world where we may know grief and suffering, our dreams never die.” (it’s pretty clear by now I am a sucker for exploring identity). Also, Lian’s movement style is mesmerizing.

Carne Viva Dance Theater’s Dame La Receta!
September 10, 11, and 13
Icebox Project Space, 1400 North American Street

“Give me the recipe” is an apt title for a performance about preserving cultural identity while pursuing the American Dream. I’m not sure any of us know what that is anymore, but La Receta offers community and collective healing on the way.

Torrent: Dancing in the Churn
September 28
CHI Movement Studio, 1316 South 9th Street

I’ve always loved Evalina Carbonell’s work (Zara Waters reviews here) and I was intrigued by Jessica Warchal-King in a video during the pandemic Fringe. Looking forward to seeing them again in person!

When I have run out of run

I am also looking forward to kicking back in my chair at home with digital performances from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival presented by C Arts. Shows are available September 1-30 whenever you click the button, so they slot easily into a busy schedule.

Rey Camoy is my top pick: an artist whose characters—a clown, a crone, and a disabled soldier—come alive.

Tango in Silk also looks fascinating—a cross-culture tango inspired by Shanghai of the 1930s. It’s only 5 minutes long, but you can pick a sliding price.

Many of the shows will have a recommended ticket price and also an option to select a PWYC (Pay What You Can) price that is more in line with your budget. But I hope you pause before hitting the lowest price if you have more to give. Artists rely on those ticket sales to keep producing their art.