DANCE IQUAIL! returns to Philly for two nights of performances

Dr. Iquail Shaheed is bringing his dance company, DANCE IQUAIL!, back to the Philadelphia area for the first time in years. The two-night concert (taking place March 22 and 23) will feature three World Premieres at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (480 S. Broad St.)

The premieres come from Christian von Howard, Maleek Washington, and Shaheed himself. As a release notes, von Howard, Director of the Von Howard Project, tends to have choreography that is extremely athletic, yet infused with layered moments of subtle detail and sinuous control. Washington’s performance talents on the other hand have been recognized nationally at venues like The White House, The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Jacob’s Pillow, The Joyce Theater, and the Apollo Theater.

“I’m always proud to present new choreographers to our home audiences,” said Shaheed in a statement. “We travel the world with sold out audiences that love the high energy, spiritual and down-right fun dance performances about Philly. I can’t wait to show our hometown audience what we’re up to”

Shaheed’s world premiere, ‘Rain’ will close out the performances at the end of this month. The piece centers on Blackness, justice, and joy, and has been hailed as “a perfect example of his generation of male dancers… Technically superb and artistically infallible.”

Since his time away from the City of Brotherly Love, Shaheed has worked with internationally acclaimed companies such as the Philadanco, Compagnie Thor (Brussels), Sean Curran Company, Ronald K Brown/ Evidence, and the Fred Benjamin Dance Company. He also is the first Black Male to earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Texas Woman’s University.

As an educator, Shaheed preserves the Horton Technique by serving on faculty at The Ailey School, NAISDA Dance College in Australia, and additionally is the second Black man to receive tenure and promotion to associate professor at Goucher College since their inception in 1889, the release also notes.

With his company, DANCE IQUAIL!, the dancer looks to connect with both the performers and the audience members, but also, help young dancers help overcome injustice in this creative world.

The two 90-minute performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. on March 22 and 23, and there will be a post-performance reception on that Friday immediately following the performance. Tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com/event/6190775. More information on the company can be found at danceiquail.org.