RENNIE HARRIS PUREMOVEMENT
NUTTIN’ BUT A WORD
CHOREOGRAPHER, FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Rennie Harris
RENNIE HARRIS PUREMOVEMENT
Fyness Mason, Marguerite Waller, Rachel Snider, Angel Anderson, Miyeko Urvashi Rennie Harris, Joshua Archibald, Zakhele Grabowski, Joshua Culbreath, Emily Culbreath
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR & LIGHTING DESIGNER
Julie Ballard
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
This suite of works challenges the structural integrity of Campbell locking, house, hip-hop, and B-boying. Now that we are a global Hip-Hop nation, we seem to have become hip-hop/street dance zealots. This purist attitude has stagnated the natural progression of street dance. Simply put, we have become elitist about Hip-Hop culture. This elitism is due to this generation’s obsession with “keeping it real.” The truth of the matter is this generation will never relive my generation’s era of original dance. My generation defined the three laws of Hip-Hop culture: innovation, individuality, and creativity. At best, they can appreciate it, pay homage to it, and acknowledge it as the foundational era of hip-hop/street dance it was; in doing that, they will tap into their individuality, creativity, and innovation, which in turn ensures progress. The work’s title, Nuttin’ But A Word, was taken from a cultural phrase used amongst Blacks in the United States. The complete phrase is, “You ain’t said nothing but a word”; loosely translated, it means, “Your words mean nothing — pay close attention because what I do next will trump anything you have to say.” Hip-hop/street dance is progressive by design. There is nothing about the three Laws of Hip-Hop that suggests stagnation. Nothing about these laws indicates that we as practitioners of Hip-Hop should only adhere to its foundation; it is quite the opposite. Nuttin’ But A Word challenges the Hip-Hop puritans at every turn and reminds us that we will not evolve as a form without individuality, creativity, and innovation. ~Rennie Harris~
Continuum
The Word…
Unlocked
Bent
NUTTIN’ BUT A WORD
Choreography by Rennie Harris
Music: Mixed by DJ Lee Jones
Choreography by Rennie Harris
Music: Trinity Ov Me by Osunlade
Choreography by Rennie Harris
Music: Ambient by Raphael Xavier
Choreography by Rennie Harris
Music: Round, Round, Round by Al Jarreau
A Funny Thing Happened
A Day In the Life
Doubt & Dolo
Get Down Or Laydown!
Choreography by Rennie Harris
Music: Man With A Movie Camera by Cinematic Orchestra
Choreography by Rennie Harris
Restaged & Reimagined
Music: Sacré The Wine Ode Suite by Dhafar Youssef
Choreography by Rennie Harris
Written by Smokey Norful
Music: I Need You Now
Choreography by: Rennie Harris
Music: Can You Get It by Mandrill
WHO’S WHO & WHAT’S WHAT
CHOREOGRAPHER, FOUNDER, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
LORENZO ‘RENNIE’ HARRIS has been called “the most respected — and the most brilliant — hiphop choreographer in America” by The New Yorker. Recently, The New York Times wrote of Harris’s work; Harris, the hip-hop master who has become one of his generation’s most exacting and exciting choreographers. There are two sides to Harris’s Rhythmic Wizardry; both are impeccable. Born and raised in an African American community in North Philadelphia, Harris has taught at universities around the country since 15. Advocating for the significance of “street” origins in any dance style, Harris believes hip-hop expresses universal themes that extend beyond racial, religious, and economic boundaries and one that, because of its pan-racial and global popularity, can help bridge these divisions. In addition, Harris toured with the first Rap tour to cross the country entitled The Fresh Fest, starring Run DMC & Jam Master Jay, LL Cool J, Kurtis Blow, Fat Boys, Salt and Peppa, and many noted pioneers of rap.
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Known for bringing social dances to the concert stage and coining the term Street Dance Theater, Harris has broken new ground as one of the first hip-hop choreographers to set works on balletbased companies such as Ballet Memphis, Colorado Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Philadelphia Dance Company (Philadanco), Giordano Dance Chicago, Lula Washington Dance Theatre, Cleo Parker Robinson, Dallas Black Dance Theater, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC), Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and more. The first street dancer commissioned to create an evening length work on Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and to serve as a resident artist at The Ailey School. He’s received three Bessie Awards, five Black Theater Alvin Ailey Awards, Herb Alpert Award, and nominated for a Lawrence Olivier Award (UK). He’s also received a Life-Time Achievement Award in choreography (McCullum Theater 2019). Harris was also voted one of the most influential people in the last one hundred years of Philadelphia’s history (City Paper), he’s been compared to Basquiat, Alvin Ailey and Bob Fosse.
In addition, he’s received a Guggenheim Fellowship, PEW Fellowship, a USA Artist of the Year Fellowship, a Governors Artist of the Year Award, and is noted as the first street dancer to receive two honorary doctorate degrees from both Bates College (Lewiston Maine) and Columbia College (Chicago Ill). He’s served as cultural ambassadors for former President Ronald Reagan’s US Embassy Tour in 1986 and invited to the White House by the President Clinton Administration to share in the recognition of African American artist making a difference in the world (2001) and received a medal in choreography from the Kennedy Center. Rennie Harris Puremovement has performed for such dignitaries as the Queen of England and the Princess’ of Monaco and was chosen as one of four US companies to serve as hip-hop cultural ambassadors for President Obama’s Dance Motion USA and toured (Middle-East) Israel, Jordan, Ramulah, Egypt, Palestine, and surrounding countries-as well as Japan, China, Gambia, and Kazakstan to name a few. In 2020, Harris became a recipient of the Doris Duke Artist Award. He was also awarded The Andrew W. Mellon Grant “Building A Legacy of Street Dance” (2022), as well as the Hermitage Greenfield Prize (2023) and the Samuel H. Scripps American Dance Festival Award (2023). Lorenzo “Rennie” Harris is atop the hip-hop heap, its leading ambassador.
CAST OF DANCERS
FYNESS MASON Senior Principal dancer; was raised in New York City, is a Temple University, B.A., and Harcum College Graduate. Her hip-hop dance career began with Rennie Harris Puremovement Dance Company in 2005. Mason has performed nationally and internationally in theaters such as the Kimmel Center, Kennedy Center, Saddlers Wells in London, England, Alvin Ailey Theater, Carpenters Center in Long Beach, Joyce Theater, Lied Center, Bates Dance Festival, Bryn Mawr College, Wells Fargo Center, N.Y.C. SummerStage, and Bam Theater. She’s taught classes at Temple University, Bryn Mawr College, Florida State University, Bates Dance Festival, and more. Fyness teaches classes that incorporate movement from the African Diaspora, as well as hip-hop. Fyness has also performed with Face Da Phlave Entertainment, Montazh all woman’s hip-hop Dance Company, Fly ground with Lela Aisha Jones, Oyin Hardy’s Troupe Dada, and the late Kariamu Welsh. An Occupational Therapist Assisting Fyness raised three children with her husband, Steve Mason (resident D.J. at W.D.A.S. Philadelphia radio station). Activist and feminist Fyness uses hip-hop to spread her message of love and unity throughout the community she serves.
MARGUERITE WALLER Principal dancer, Company Manager; is a dancer, choreographer, and teaching artist born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. Heavily involved in the local hip-hop community, she pulls from various dance forms, such as Waacking, House, Locking, Breaking, hip-
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hop, Postmodern Contemporary, and Tap, in her performance work, choreography, and freestyle/ battle practice. She is a graduate of Arizona State University, obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, a Minor in Justice Studies, and two Certificates in Arts Entrepreneurship and Socially Practice in Design and the Arts. In addition, Maggie is a Fulbright Summer Institute Participant, a recipient of the Joan Frazer Memorial Award for Judaism and the Arts, and a published writer. She recently became an FY24 Arts and Humanities Fellow through the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Maggie currently lives in Washington, D.C., teaching and making. She works as the Programs and Partnerships Coordinator at Dance Exchange, a local nonprofit organization that expands who gets to dance, where dance happens, what dance is about, and why dance matters. Maggie is deeply honored to be a Principal dancer of Rennie Harris Puremovement, as well as the company’s administrative assistant and grant writer.
ANGEL ANDERSON Principal dancer; is a performing artist, scholar, and educator from the south suburbs of Chicago. Encompassing various dance forms rooted in Africanist traditions, her movement archive includes street and club dance forms, modern and contemporary sensibilities, neo traditional African dances, and traditional West African dances. Anderson is an alumna of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Alongside performing nationally as a principal dancer of Rennie Harris Puremovement, she has assisted Harris in works such as “Dear Frankie” set on Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, as well as “Jacobs Ladder “set on Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. Committed to remaining a student and acquiring knowledge on the of African American dance forms, Anderson studies under Rennie Harris University and Ecole Des Sables via the Training Diaspora Africa program. Her focus on expanding her knowledge and developing her teaching pedagogy reflects a dedication to passing on African American traditions to future generations.
RACHEL SNIDER Principal dancer, Rehearsal Director; is a Chambersburg PA native who relocated to Philadelphia in 2016. She started dancing at the age of three training in ballet and modern, and competed in multiple dance competitions. Rachel began learning hip-hop at the age of twelve with Jason Reed in REACH! hip-hop based in Carlisle, PA. She discovered her true passion for dance through Moncell Durden and his company Keystone Dance Project, learning styles such as hip-hop, Locking, House, Breaking, ex. Through Moncell, Rachel met her biggest dance inspiration and mentor, Marcus Tucker. She has trained under the direction of Marcus Tucker, and The Hood Lockers for 8 years, and has become a core member of The Hood Lockers, and Hood Nation. She is an alumni at Jacob’s Pillow for Social Dances - Jazz to hip-hop. Rachel has performed in shows across College campuses, teaching workshops at Ursinus College, York College, and assisted Marcus Tucker’s teaching residency at Eastern University. She has been teaching in Philadelphia for 6 years at Vince Johnson’s Movemakers Philly, as well as Lisa Welsch’s First Position Dance Arts. Rachel is a core member of Rennie Harris Puremovement as of 2022, and is eager to continue her journey with the company.
JOSHUA ARCHIBALD (“butterfly.god”) Apprentice dancer; Jamaican-born and Miami-based, Joshua is a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on spiritual and esoteric material. He was brought up in a firm, Christian household and draws inspiration from both the teachings of his youth and the consequent spiritual journey of adulthood. Having a music producer for a father, and having been raised as a percussionist from childhood throughout high school, he comes from a musically inclined background. He was a regular drummer for his church as well as his high school jazz ensemble. During the later years of his education, he became an engineering student and simultaneously found interest in theatre. Although dance is his medium of choice, his education and training in these different areas aid to inform his creative process and ultimate expression as an individual and artist. As a dance major
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he received most of his ballet and contemporary training at Miami-Dade College under Michelle GrantMurray. In addition to his participation in the dance program, he independently trained in hip-hop and other street styles with different crews and leaders in the community. Lately he has focused on developing his own movement to lay the foundation for future works.
MIYEKO URVASHI RENNIE HARRIS Apprentice dancer; born in Philadelphia, began training in Austin, Texas, at the age of eight. She later returned to Philadelphia and began her pre-professional training at the Koresh School of Dance, where she trained under Melissa Rector, Roni Koresh, and Eva Szabo. Harris performed with the Koresh Youth Ensemble for three years. Most recently, she performed with MauraTownsend Dance in the Los Angeles Dance Festival at the Luckman Theatre. Harris is in her second year of college at California State University Los Angeles. She is excited to be performing with Rennie Harris Puremovement and looks forward to this next chapter in her life.
ZAKHELE GRABOWSKI (Swazi) Apprentice dancer; is a competitive Breaker, Tap dancer, and musician. Originally from Eswatini, he is now based in NYC. Swazi is a Dynamic Rocker, a member of Olympic Teen Team USA, and will be representing the USA in Slovenia in May, at the Kidz World Breaking Championships. He is delighted and honoured to be performing with Rennie Harris Puremovement.
JOSHUA CULBREATH Associate dancer; was born and raised in Philadelphia, where he started dancing at age ten. During his middle school years, Joshua joined a dance group called K.R.S. Ent., which won many talent shows and performed on the T.V. show Showtime at the Apollo in New York. While dancing with K.R.S. Ent., Joshua met B-boy Hannibal, owner and artistic director of 360 Flava, and began to train with him. Joshua is currently a core member of Rennie Harris Puremovement.
EMILY CULBREATH Associate dancer; began dancing professionally in 2015 after graduating with her BFA in Dance from The University of Colorado at Boulder. She began touring with the renowned hiphop theater company, Rennie Harris Puremovement, in 2018. Pietruszka has shown her own work at the “Illadelph” street dance festival, “The Come Together Festival” hosted by Koresh Dance, “Here and Now vol. II” hosted by W.O.R.X, and as a guest choreographer at Franklin & Marshall College (PA) and Georgian Court University (NJ). Emily has taught and guest lectured in various contexts including Mark Morris Dance Group, New Visions for Public Schools, California State University, The Juilliard School, The Ailey School, Princeton University, and Rennie Harris University’s street dance certification program. Currently residing in Philadelphia, Emily holds an adjunct faculty position at Franklin and Marshall College and teaches at Philadelphia’s own street dance education studio, Urban Movement Arts. She operates her own online personal training business, Embodied by Em, and is the co-founder of Snack Break Movement Arts, a project-based duo that recently won Summer Dance Forever’s Theater competition duo category in the summer of 2022.
JULIE BALLARD Lighting Designer, Production Manager; USA829, is a professional lighting designer, ETCP-certified electrician, and theatrical technician. She is affiliated with IATSE Local 2 and the Actors’ Equity Association. Additionally, Ms. Ballard is the owner/operator of OverlapLighting Productions, LLC, a freelance production company specializing in lighting design, production/stage management, and photography. She has designed for the Charlotte Ballet, Giordano Dance Chicago, Ballet West, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.
She has freelanced for two decades in and around the Midwest, touring regionally, nationally, and internationally with Hubbard Street, Pilobolus, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, The Seldoms, and David Dorfman Dance, among others. Theatre audiences have seen her designs in the U.S., across Europe, Siberia, and South Africa. Ms. Ballard holds degrees in Theater (BA, 1999) and Lighting Design (MFA, 2004) from Kent State University and the University of Florida, respectively. Visit her portfolio at overlaplighting.com.
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RODNEY HILL Executive Director; was born and raised in the tough streets of North Philadelphia, entering the hip-hop scene in 1988. For more than a decade, Hill has blazed the stages in venues, nationally and abroad. He has been featured in many videos for such artists as Boys II Men, Will Smith, and Musiq Soulchild, to name just a few. He has also performed on TV shows such as R&B Divas: Los Angeles, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Soul Train, NBC’s NFL Under the Helmet, and BET’s Teen Summit. In addition, he has toured and performed with Rennie Harris Puremovement, R&B singer Brave Williams, Julian King, R&B group AAries, Mad Skillz, rapper Eve, R&B legend Teddy Pendergrass, Janet Jackson’s Dj Aktive, R&B singer Shanice Wilson, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, and Philly’s own The Roots. An accomplished dancer, choreographer, and teacher, Rodney Hill has performed and taught at universities and dance studios locally, nationally, and internationally in London, Santiago (Chile), Toronto, Bermuda, Monaco. Bogotá; Democratic Republic of Congo, East Asia, Egypt, England, Israel, and Palestine. In 2020, Hill graduated from Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, with an MFA in choreography. Hill’s inspiration for dance comes from his community and family. He continues to educate and inspire others through his hard work, dedication, and commitment to hip-hop and its culture. In January 2022, Hill was sworn in as Councilman for Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, a suburban community just outside North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he grew up.
RENNIE HARRIS PUREMOVEMENT STAFF & DIRECTORS
Rennie Harris Founder/Choreographer rennieharris@rhpm.org
Rodney Hill Executive Director rodneyhill@rhpm.org
Marguerite Waller Company Manager rhpm.adm@gmail.com
Rachel Snider Rehearsal Director rachelsnider98@gmail.com
Angelina P. Labate RH Archival Director angelinaasda@gmail.com
Mika Lemoine Rennie Harris University Assistant rhumanagingdirector2021@gmail.com
Brittany Williams Rennie Harris University Director msbritt305@gmail.com
*A SPECIAL THANKS TO: Joan Myers Brown and the Philadelphia Dance Company. The Theater and Dance Department at the University of Colorado @Boulder, Pew Charitable Trust, Dance Advance, Penn Pat, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Ford Foundation, Guggenheim, Dance USA, The Alan M. Kriegsman Residency, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, National Dance Project, National Performance Network, NEFA for over thirty years of unwavering support.
CONTACT INFORMATION: Rodney S. Hill Executive Director, Telephone: 267 236 4097 email: rodneyhill@RHPM.org Website: www.RHPM.org Facebook: www.FACEBOOK.com/RennieHarrisPuremovment Twitter: Twitter.com/RHPM For more information about Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater log on to: www.RHPM.org
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