Also this issue: Star Turn The NY season is off to a celeb-packed start.That's not always a good thing. -Toby Zinman Tune In This just in: Hairspray's not the only musical on Broadway this season. -David Anthony Fox Stones in His Pockets -Toby Zinman CafŽ Puttanesca -Juliet Fletcher Kumquat Dance Collective -Janet Anderson Sex Workers Art Show -A.D. Amorosi Waking Dreams -Kristina Weise The Trojan Women -David Anthony Fox

November 21-27, 2002

artpicks

Philadanco

by Janet Anderson

There's no better talent spotter in town than Joan Myers Brown, who keeps her troupe Philadanco jam-packed with sensational dancers. In fact, Brown's major problem is being raided by bigger companies. Still, the talent pours in -- and not just in the form of dancers. For the company's fall program at the Kimmel Center, Brown invited the very-much-in-demand Trey McIntyre to choreograph something for the occasion. McIntyre's no stranger to Philly, having choreographed two dances for Pennsylvania Ballet, and Brown actually sat in on some of his PAB work sessions, trying to decide if he was right for her modern-trained, African-American-focused company. She didn't want anything "cutesy." Brown thought McIntyre's "strong balletic base would be a challenge for the dancers, and that working with a predominantly African-American modern dance troupe would give him a challenge as well." Turns out McIntyre was as intrigued as she was and the resulting commission, "Natural Flirt," which sets 10 dancers moving to the jazz of legendary pianist Ramsey Lewis, premieres this weekend. Since McIntyre has a naturally musical approach to movement, and Danco dancers seem to exude music from every pore of their bodies, the combination sounds more than promising. There's other good stuff on the program including "Suite Otis," a company showcase danced, pranced, hopped and spun to Otis Redding, plus "Gatekeepers" by Ronald K. Brown, the sensational choreographer who moves people around a stage like bursts of electro-magnets. Mark this one: Must See!

Thu., Nov. 21-Sat., Nov. 23, 7:30 p.m., $27-$37, The Kimmel Center, 260 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999.