About the Program

FLY: Five First Ladies of Dance features solo performances by Carmen de Lavallade, Dianne McIntyre, Bebe Miller, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, and Germaine Acogny — celebrated dancers and choreographers who have altered the landscape of the contemporary dance world. Originally presented by 651 ARTS in May 2009 as part of a season dedicated to women of African descent in the performing arts, both performances quickly sold out. With greater audience demand than could be accommodated, and a cast that was inspired to continue working together, the idea of taking the show on the road was born.  This fall, beginning on October 29, FLY will be performed in Philadelphia; Oberlin, Ohio; Washington D.C. and Newark. Seats are selling fast, so buy your tickets soon!

About the Artists

Germaine Acogny
Carmen de Lavallade
Dianne McIntyre
Bebe Miller
Jawole Willa Jo Zollar

Funding Credits

FLY: Five First Ladies of Dance was produced by 651 ARTS as part of its signature series Black Dance: Tradition and Transformation and premiered on May 30, 2009 under the same program.  The U.S. tour of FLY is funded in part by the National Dance Project of the New England Foundation for the Arts, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and additional funding from the Ford Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Community Connections Fund of the MetLife Foundation and the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation. Black Dance: Tradition and Transformation has been generously funded by the Doris Duke Foundation and the Mertz Gilmore Foundation. The tour is also generously supported by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.