Beautiful Human Lies: Chapter 4
Choreographed and Directed by Rennie Harris, Performed by Megan Bridge
September 6-8, 2025
A new, evening-length solo dance performance conjures a dissonant dialogue around identity, transformation, and privilege.
In 1999, rising hip-hop artist Rennie Harris created a 7-minute solo dance for Megan Bridge’s student thesis concert at SUNY Purchase. A mashup of street dance and modern dance, including a recorded conversation between the two artists, the work had its professional debut in 2000’s Philadelphia Fringe Festival.
Using the original solo as a seed, Beautiful Human Lies: Chapter 4 takes one white woman’s story and embeds it in layers of media images, unfolding a spectacle that lives in the tension between personal and community healing and a violent, oppressive culture.
This project explores the many ways that artistic collaboration can profoundly mark the passage of time, and how we break and remake ourselves to cobble together a coherent self.
Project scholar and writer: Brenda Dixon Gottschild
Additional Opportunities:
September 6th: Join Brenda Dixon Gottschild and Rennie Harris for a pre-show talk at 6 PM.
September 8th: Join writers from thINKingDANCE, Philadelphia’s independent dance criticism journal, after the performance for “Write Back Atcha!” a post-show talk-back and mini-writing workshop. Our facilitators will guide you through a discussion of the performance and exploration of language you can use to describe dance. You’ll have an opportunity to see your words published in a crowd-sourced review on www.thinkingdance.net
Performance Information
September 6-8, 2025
Sept 6 at 7pm
Sept 7 at 2pm
Sept 8 at 7pm
Pre-Show Talk
Sept 6 at 6pm with Brenda Dixon Gottschild and Rennie Harris
“Write Back Atcha!”
Sept 8th after the performance, join writers from thINKingDANCE, Philadelphia’s independent dance criticism journal, after the performance for a post-show talk-back and mini-writing workshop.
Pricing
$35 Standard
$15 Students & 25-and-Unders
$2 FringeACCESS
FringeArts Member discounts & benefits available
Venue
The Proscenium at the Drake
302 South Hicks St.
Philadelphia PA 19102
About the Artists
Choreographed by Rennie Harris, Performed by Megan Bridge
In the last twenty-five years, the world has seen profound changes in economies, societies, and political landscapes. These artists, too, have transformed: At age 61 and with two new hips, two honorary doctorates and a Guggenheim, Rennie’s work has shaped an entire genre. Megan, 46 and a mother of two, performs and teaches in universities and around the world, advocating for dance as a powerful healer.
Brenda Dixon Gottschild, an American cultural historian, performer, choreographer, and anti-racist cultural worker, is the project’s embedded scholar and writer. Professor Emerita at Temple University, Gottschild has published four books and countless essays and articles.
Creative Team
Write Back Atcha; Hosted Noel Price-Bracey
I am foremost a student. I am an artist, advocate, and educator as well. Born and raised in Detroit, MI, I am proud to have lived and learned in the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest and–as of the fall of 2024– the East Coast. I have collaborated, and performed across the U.S., including Kalamazoo, MI, Detroit, MI, Chicago, IL, Seattle, WA, Spokane, WA, Bellingham, WA, Missoula, MT, and Portland, OR as well as internationally, Canada and Italy. Expression: physical, written and oral are the primary mediums I use to engage others, investigate phenomena, and illuminate public discourse.
Supporters
A project of Fidget, made possible by the generosity of Fidget’s donors with additional support from University of Colorado, Boulder, Ensemble Arts Philly at The Kimmel Center, FringeArts, and two creative residencies with American Dance Asylum.
Co-producers
Judith Tannenbaum
Karol M. Wasylyshyn
Rosanne Sarkissian
Photos: Carolyn Stanish
Accessibility
Wheelchair/Limited Mobility Seating and Assistive Listening Devices. Check PhillyFringe.org for additional services for specific shows.
Content Considerations
Beautiful Human Lies: Chapter 4 contains raw, vulnerable, and sometimes anguished content related to sexuality and power dynamics.
This show contains:
- Flashing Lights
Health & Safety
Masks are optional, vaccines are not required. More information about FringeArts COVID policies can be found here.
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