Rennie Harris Performance Retrospective

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

Rennie Harris Puremovement. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Recipient

Grant Year 2006

Grant Amount $75,000

Status Completed

Updated June 20, 2023

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts presented a 15-year retrospective of the Philadelphia-based hip-hop dance company Rennie Harris Puremovement. Consisting of three consecutive performances and a total of nine works, the programs highlighted the company’s diverse cast of b-boys, spoken word artists, hip-hop and tap dancers, and the group’s founder, Pew Fellow Rennie Harris’ signature movement style of hip-hop, break dancing, martial arts, and the Brazilian art form Capoeira. The retrospective performances included two of Harris’ full-length hip-hop ballets—Rome & Jewels, a reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet through the lens of gang violence, and Facing Mekka, which features video projection by Tobin Rothlein to depict themes of poverty and African rituals.

Recipient

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is one of the most well-attended cultural venues in Philadelphia. Resident companies at the Kimmel include The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and Philadelphia Ballet.

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