Dancefusion

Dancefusion is a modern dance repertory company, dedicated to both the reconstruction of historic works from America’s record of modern dance, as well as the creation of innovative new works. Founded by artistic director, Gwendolyn Bye in 1987, Dancefusion has presented annual home seasons, along with performances, outreach, and teaching residencies for over 35 years.  

Dancefusion’s mission is to reconstruct historical works, introduce new choreography, provide dance training through programs at Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center and fusion2, and to expand public awareness of the arts through programs and performances to diverse audiences. 

GBDCML116 (1).jpg
GBDCML123.jpg
0022GwenB.jpg
0009GwenB.jpg
0164GBYE_Original.jpg
0122GwenB.jpg

Dancefusion has performed at the following notable venues 

  • Painted Bride Art Center 

  • The Performance Garage 

  • Suzanne Roberts Theatre 

  • New Freedom Theatre 

  • Harold Prince Theater Univ. of Penn 

  • FringeArts Theater 

  • Alvin Ailey’s CitiGroup Theater (NYC) 

Dancefusion has also had the opportunity to make appearances at The Come Together Festival and Philadelphia FringeArts Festival, American Dance Guld Festival and 92nd St. Y in New York City. Internationally, Dancefusion has had the privilege of participating in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.  

Since 1990, Dancefusion has participated in the Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership, a program of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. The Company has traveled to over 100 schools in Greater Philadelphia teaching “Dance as a Tool for Education, including two 20-day residencies at the Samuel Powel Elementary School in Philadelphia, which culminated in performances for over 300 school students. From 2018 to 2023 Dancefusion participated in yearly residencies at the Science Leadership Academy Middle School, with weekly after school dance programs. Dancefusion’s outreach includes performances at The Porch at 30th Street Station, 40th St. Festival at University of Pennsylvania, and The Mann Center for Performing Arts – Summer Educational Series. 
Students from the professional company, Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center, and the junior company, fusion2, are involved in the following Dancefusion Christmas productions; A Renaissance Christmas, Hansel & Gretel, The 12 Days of Christmas, T’was the Night Before Christmas, and A Festival of Lights.  

Dancefusion has reconstructed an impressive collection of historic modern dances including: 

  • Mary Anthony’s Threnody (1956) 

  • The Wind (1947) 

  • Women of Troy (1954) 

  • Seascape & By The Shore (1973) 

  • Gloria (1967) 

  • Anna Sokolow’s The Evolution of Ragtime (1952) 

  • Time + (1968) 

  • Rooms (1955) 

  • Quartertones (1974) 

  • As I Remember (1984) 

  • José Limón and Pauline Koner’s duet, Barren Scepter (1960) 

  • Limón’s There is a Time (1956 excerpt) 

  • Limón’s Concerto Grosso (1945) 

  • Limón and Daniel Lewis Waldstein Sonata (1st movement 1971) 

  • Pauline Koner’s Concertino (1955) 

Dancefusion has made four documentary films depicting the reconstruction of historic works by Anna Sokolow, Mary Anthony, Jose Limón, and Pauline Koner. One of these documentaries “Age & Passion” chronicled the reconstruction of Anthony’s “Women of Troy”. In was presented in collaboration with Drexel University at a symposium event in 2006.  Dancefusion partnered for a second time with Drexel’s Philadelphia Dance Conference, for the Limon Centennial Celebration in 2008 where the company presented the documentary “Blood Red”, a reconstruction of Limon and Koner’s Barren Scepter. Dancefusion hosted two-panel discussions on dance preservation and performed Barren Scepter and There Is a Time (excerpt).