Opening weekend is always a busy time ’round these parts, but I’m pleased I was able to catch the 2011 Philly Fringe production Dancing Dead from Brian Sanders/JUNK, which has gotten some pretty stellar early notices.

The show relies less on aerial work than, say, Urban Scuba, although they still take to the rigging, no doubt. But how the dancers are deployed is no less challenging: how long can you do what Brian makes his dancers do while pretending their limbs are disjointed? Unless you’re them, probably not at all.

From the Inquirer‘s Howie Shapiro (full review still to come from Merilyn Jackson, FYI): “Sanders’ piece was an apt early festival opening for two reasons: It’s bizarre, and it involves a subject that has been done now and again forcefully in the festival: the undead. It’s set in a fresh, green portion of a graveyard, and the dance troupe of ghouls and zombies plays out its scenarios to songs of love and loss that have become staples of easy-listening FM stations. . . . isn’t it just like the Fringe to have the undead bring out the first rush of the living?”

And from Stage: “The company’s latest foray into the Fringe, Dancing Dead, is at once breathtakingly dangerous and hauntingly beautiful.”

After the jump: awesome promo pics of the show by Bill Hebert!

Dancing Dead runs Thursday, September 8 through Sunday, September 11 and Thrusday, September 15 through Saturday, September 17 in the sub-basement of the 444 Lofts building at 444 N. 4th Street, Northern Liberties. Times vary, $25.

–Nicholas Gilewicz

Photos by Bill Hebert.