Philadanco is performing at PIFA - 6abc Loves the Arts

April 8th, 2016 (WPVI) -- For its Spring performance, Philadanco is performing at PIFA-the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts.

The dancers will showcase the works of four ballets weaved together into a program called Global Artistry, that's meant to be a bridge across cultural divides.

Philadanco Founder & Artistic Director Joan Myers Brown says the program features one American choreographer and three international artists, "We have Thang Dao who's from Vietnam. We have Francisco Gella who's from the Phillipines, and we also have one of our old choreographers from the island of Jamaica, David Brown."

Myers Brown says the goal is to communicate through the universal language of modern dance, "When we go to countries you don't have to speak English. But you start dancing; everyone knows what you're doing. So it's just really exciting, different program."

The musical styles vary from classical to electronic, "it's all different music, all different styles," says Myers Brown, "but what it does for the dancers is challenges them to be able to do the work of anyone."

And that has always been the mission of Philadanco as well. Myers Brown founded the company in 1970 to provide opportunities for dancers of color, "and I don't mean just African-American girls. Asian, Native American, Latino girls." she says and adds that she hopes audiences will find the world premiere of works from around the world exciting.

"You always have to do something new and different because Philadelphians are a hard crowd...and people who haven't seen Philadanco will get blown away, and people who love us will get blown away."

Philadanco will perform Global Artistry at the Kimmel Center's Perelman Theater April 15-17. For tickets go to www.TheArtsinPhilly.org.

You can find the full PIFA schedule of events at PIFA.org.