PHILADELPHIA — A high-octane troupe of stellar dancers towing the lines of classical and contemporary movement, Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys of Dance features “fast and furious pop dancers steeped in ballet basics” (Chicago Tribune). Appearing on the stage at Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, February 20-22, the company’s fast-paced 80-minute signature program is performed by six male and two female dancers to a soundtrack of popular music from Kanye West, Michael Jackson, Coldplay, The Beatles, Robin Thicke, Usher, Queen, Justin Timberlake and more.
Performances take place Thursday, Feb. 20 at 7:30 PM; Friday, Feb. 21 at 8 PM; and Saturday, Feb. 22 at 2 PM and 8 PM. Tickets are $20-$55 ($10 for students; prices subject to change) and are available by calling 215.898.3900, visiting annenbergcenter.org or stopping by the Box Office at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19104.
The program, choreographed by co-artistic director, resident choreographer and USA International Junior Gold Medalist Adrienne Canterna, includes two acts: “Don’t Stop Believin’” features 10 high-energy dances, while “We are the Champions” is set to 19 distinctive pop songs showcasing the athleticism and amazing talent of the virtuoso performers. The ensemble’s choreographic vocabulary, consisting of 180-plus extensions, endless turns, soaring jumps, no-handed round-offs and split leaps, is combined with attention-grabbing, well-rehearsed ensemble sections.
Says founder Rasta Thomas of his ensemble, which performs more than 200 shows per year in over 25 countries: “They are the dancers of tomorrow, ‘hybrids’ who can do it all, from ballet to hip-hop. They have an unparalleled ability to morph from one style to another and are entertaining and exciting to watch.” Thomas’ vision is to bring dance out of the concert halls and to the masses.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys of Dance
Thursday, February 20 at 7:30 PM
Friday, February 21 at 8 PM (with post-show talkback)
Saturday, February 22 at 2 PM and 8 PM
In addition to the performances, Bad Boys of Dance will conduct two outreach activities: a Student Discovery program on Friday, Feb. 21 at 10:30 AM, and a master class as part of Dance Celebration’s Artist to Artist Series on Friday, Feb. 21 at 1 PM. For more information, contact Anne-Marie Mulgrew at Dance Affiliates by calling 215.636.9000, ext. 110, emailing Annemarie [at] danceaffiliates [dot] org or visiting www.danceaffiliates.org.
The Bad Boys of Dance performances continue Dance Celebration’s 31st season, presented by Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center. The Dance Celebration series will continue in 2014 with doug elkins choreography, etc. (March 6-8), BODYTRAFFIC (April 3-5) and MOMIX (May 8-11).
Funding for the 13/14 Dance Celebration season is provided by Friends of Dance (Affiliates), the National Dance Project of the New England Foundation for the Arts, The Philadelphia Cultural Fund, and the Virginia C. Mulconroy Fund of The Philadelphia Foundation. State arts funding support is received through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
ABOUT RASTA THOMAS’ BAD BOYS OF DANCE
Bad Boys of Dance (BBD) was founded by dance superstar Rasta Thomas in 2007. BBD debuted at the 75th anniversary season of the world-renowned American dance festival Jacob’s Pillow. Today the company brings its magic to the masses, performing in over 25 countries, and giving more than 200 shows a year. BBD has performed for more than 1 million fans worldwide. The Bad Boys are a hit with every crowd; whether dancing on the catwalk at New York Fashion Week or appearing on the famous Swiss TV show Benissimo, these amazing dancers’ versatility and talent push the bounds of dance with athletic jumps, endless turns and endearing individuality. BBD dancers have performed on Broadway, been in feature films, and have been adored by millions on hit TV shows like Dancing with the Stars. In 2010 the BAD BOYS performed at Carnegie Hall in NYC with Sir Elton John for a charity event also starring Lady Gaga, Sting and Bruce Springsteen. They also had the distinct honor of performing at the 2010 opening ceremonies of the USA International Ballet Competition. In 2011, they performed at the prestigious Dance Open International in St Petersburg, Russia, and made a special guest performance on FOX TV’s So You Think You Can Dance. Moreover, BBD was one of the select companies to be featured in the Jacob’s Pillow’s award winning PBS documentary “Never Stand Still”. In 2012 they were cultural ambassadors to India sharing in an exchange program sponsored by the U.S. State Department, where they performed in more than eight cities to thousands of fans. Currently the Bad Boys are touring the world with their hit shows “Rock the Ballet” and “Romeo & Juliet.” For more information, visit badboysofdance.com.
ABOUT RASTA THOMAS (founder/director)
Rasta Thomas was born in San Francisco, California, in 1981 and raised in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Rasta studied at the world-renowned Kirov Academy in Washington, D.C. As a teenager, Thomas made dance competition history with honors including the Special Jury Prize from the 1994 Paris International Dance Competition, the Gold Medal in the Junior Men’s Division from the 1996 Varna International Ballet Competition and the Gold Medal in the Senior Men’s Division from the Jackson, MS USA-IBC. In 1995, he became a member of Le Jeune Ballet de France and in 1997, was invited to be a Principal Dancer with the Hartford Ballet. Some of his guest credits include American Ballet Theatre, Victor Ullate Ballet of Spain, National Ballet of China, Joffrey Ballet, Lines Contemporary Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company and Pacific Northwest Ballet. In 2001, Thomas was the first American to become a member of the Kirov Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia, and then in 2003, he joined Dance Theatre of Harlem as a Principal. Thomas has danced diverse roles from Albrecht in Giselle, Basilio in Don Quixote, Ali in Le Corsaire, to classic works by Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Debbie Allen, Ulysses Dove and Jerry Mitchell. Thomas has been in several TV documentaries, performed at the Academy® Awards, was a featured dancer in an international ad campaign for GAP, and appeared in the feature film One Last Dance starring Patrick Swayze. He has performed at the White House for the President of the United States and opened for Aretha Franklin at Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater. In 2005, Thomas starred on Broadway in Twyla Tharp’s hit musical, Movin’ Out. In 2007, he performed as a guest artist in Othello in the title role with American Ballet Theatre for its Met season. Thomas is the founding director of Bad Boys of Dance and in 2008 he created Rasta Thomas’ “Rock the Ballet” with his wife, Adrienne Canterna. Following up their international hit “Rock the Ballet,” they launched “TAP STARS.” In 2011, Thomas held the position of Resident Director at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles, California In addition to touring the world with his company, he is the Artistic Director/CEO of Showbiz and Primetime Talent Competitions.
ABOUT DANCE CELEBRATION
Founded by Artistic Director Randy Swartz, Dance Celebration is the Greater Philadelphia region’s major contemporary dance series and is nationally recognized in its field. The 13/14 program marks Dance Celebration’s 31st season. Dance Celebration is a collaboration between Dance Affiliates and Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.
The annual Dance Celebration series engages a broad range of world-class and emerging dance companies each season. As a major cultural asset to the city and region, the program helps enhance the quality of life of both residents and visitors.
Supporting Dance Celebration’s primary mission of presenting and commissioning is a commitment to the presentation of diverse styles and choreography, cultures and nationalities; the cultivation of broadly-based adult and children’s audiences; the enrichment of the school curriculum through quality children’s matinees, arts education, and outreach; collaborations with performing arts partners in the field; and service to the local dance community through workshops, master classes, seminars and symposia.
Throughout its illustrious history, Dance Celebration has had ancillary series including the edgy NextMove Festival (1999-2003), the groundbreaking Monday Night Series (1986-1998), and numerous special events (1987-2011). Nikolais Dance Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Pilobolus Dance Theater and Murray Louis Dance Company launched the inaugural season at Annenberg Center in 1983, followed in subsequent years by modern dance legends Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, Alvin Ailey, Bella Lewitsky and José Limon.
ABOUT DANCE AFFILIATES
Founded in 1979 by artistic director Randy Swartz as American Ballet Competition, the organization later changed its name to Dance Affiliates, reflecting its mission since 1983 as one of the nation’s few remaining dance-only presenters. Its annual Dance Celebration program is Philadelphia’s acclaimed and longest-running series of world-class contemporary dance.
Having presented 200 companies in 1,500 performances, Dance Affiliates provides a wealth of opportunities for the Philadelphia community to interact with visiting dance artists through master classes, residencies, artistic collaborations, symposiums, film screenings, workshops, special student programs and pre- and post- performance curtain talks. Through more than 600 outreach programs, 30,000 students and aspiring dancers have been served. Visit www.danceaffiliates.org.
Generous support for the 13/14 Annenberg Center season is provided by The William Penn Foundation, The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, The Philadelphia Cultural Fund, The Philadelphia Foundation, PNC, The Philadelphia Phillies, The National Endowment for the Arts and The University of Pennsylvania as well as many individual donors. The Sheraton University City is the exclusive hotel sponsor.
