Pushers

Choreographer and first-time grantee Iquail Shaheed grew up in the Mantua neighborhood of West Philadelphia, recently declared a "Promise Zone" by President Barack Obama. In order to examine the difficult topic of addiction and its consequences, Pushers will use celebrity culture as its lens, as a way to connect with Mantua youth and encourage them to share their own experiences. The project is part of Shaheed's ongoing investigation into community-based methods of dance creation, as he attempts to break down barriers that make dance inaccessible to marginalized audiences. Made with a focus group of youth participants, along with collaborating artists Daniel Carlton, playwright; Charles Vincent Burtwell, composer; and Tarell Alvin McCraney, playwright and MacArthur Fellow, Pushers will culminate in a stage performance at the Painted Bride Art Center in November 2015.

Additional unrestricted funds are added to each grant for general operating support.