FIRSTWORKS CELEBRATES HIP-HOP
Hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary this year! FirstWorks marks this cultural milestone with a masterwork from Rennie Harris, “The most brilliant hip-hop choreographer in America” (The New Yorker). Rennie Harris presents: Rome & Jewels is a hip-hop retelling of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” set in the streets of Philadelphia. Watch a preview here and read on to learn more:
Rennie Harris Presents: Rome & Jewels was the 2023 New York Times Critic’s Pick!
“The most brilliant hip-hop choreographer in America” (The New Yorker), Rennie Harris restages his breakout masterpiece, Rome & Jewels. A story of love, fear, violence and triumph, Rome & Jewels challenges preconceived notions of Shakespeare with a hip-hop journey through the streets of Philadelphia. The evening-length production was groundbreaking globally, winning numerous awards as it explored racial, religious and economic questions through the lens of gang violence.
“The Basquiat of the U.S. contemporary dance scene” (The London Times), legendary choreographer Harris reinvents a timeless tale to embody the diverse African-Diasporic traditions of the past and to pave the way for innovative storytelling through dance.