Group Motion All-Stars

Sat.-Sun., Jan. 3-4, 8 p.m., $20, Community Education Center, 3500 Lancaster Ave., 215-387-9895, groupmotion.org.

by Deni Kasrel

dance

Marking its 40th year as a vital part of Philadelphia's dance community, Group Motion's Winter Fest centers on a program featuring heralded alumni and current members. It's called Group Motion All-Stars, and there is truth to this advertising. "There were two stellar companies from two generations that were consistent for a number of years," says artistic director Manfred Fischbeck. "Each of these groups found a very strong chemistry and language that's very distinctive."

Most notable is the Group Motion iteration that rocked our dance scene in the early to mid-'90s — including Myra Bazell, Niki Cousineau, Jennifer Mann, Laura Peterson and Heidi Weiss. Several years later, another distinguished ensemble coalesced among members such as Megan Bridge, Aura Fischbeck, Lesya Popil, Katie McNamara and Emily Hubler Ramey. Many of them went on to create successful careers here and elsewhere — Germany, France, New York City and San Francisco, among other places — but Fischbeck never lost touch. "We are still really close with each other. We were creating work and touring together in a very collaborative and spirited environment. It was like family." We would be hard-pressed to have another opportunity to see the work of so many illustrious creators from Philly's dance scene — including every name mentioned here — all in one spot.

Sat.-Sun., Jan. 3-4, 8 p.m., $20, Community Education Center, 3500 Lancaster Ave., 215-387-9895, groupmotion.org.