Archive

The sensational, world-renowned choreographer Rennie Harris—believed by many to be the best living hip-hop dancer/artist on earth—takes the FirstWorks stage with his namesake company in a 25th anniversary program featuring the most exciting, compelling and acclaimed pieces from their repertoire.

Featuring pipa player Yang Wei of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble. Rhode Island’s own performance ensemble with a superb string quartet at its heart.

Professional Development and All-school Assembly. Great opportunity for Social Studies, History and Music teachers! CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FLYER

A day of workshops, community classes, discussion, design, lecture/demonstration, and art installations. In its fourth year, the ASaP Symposium explores holistic, artistic interventions for diverse populations. This year’s focus is on the power of design and the implementation of arts programming in the medical field. FREE REGISTRATION

American Dance Legacy Initiative invites all to participate in their annual Mini-Fest. Designed to build connections within the dance field and between the field and the general public, the event includes dance classes, workshops, presentations, performances, exhibits, and discussions.

The festival partners with FirstWorks, Rites and Reason Theatre, Urban Bush Women, Troupe Yeredon, Dr. Thomas DeFrantz and artists from Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and NYC to engage with students and the larger community in ceremony, performances, discussions, and workshops. TICKETS REQUIRED

Join us and members of Urban Bush Women as we wrap up their FirstWorks residency with a specialty brunch menu created by the culinary team at the Dorrance. Enjoy a mouth-watering buffet, relaxed conversation & soul-nourishing live jazz performed by Rhode Island’s own Travis Colby Band. ADVANCE TICKETS REQUIRED.

A towering jazz masterpiece comes alive onstage with unbridled energy, innovative choreography and live music. TICKETS REQUIRED

Chromatic Fantasy: The World of Ciurlionis. Rhode Island’s own performance ensemble with a superb string quartet at its heart explores the intense cross-pollination of art, poetry and music at the turn of the 20th century.

ATTENTION EDUCATORS: Please join us for powerful, live performance experiences your students will never forget! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FLYER

Legendary singer/songwriter Rosanne Cash hits the road with a full band and multimedia experience featuring music from her latest (and finest!) album, The River & The Thread.

Jawole Willa Jo Zollar and Thomas F. DeFrantz discuss Walking with ‘Trane, Black Dance in its varied contemporary manifestations, Black Lives Matter, and the long histories of dance in African American social justice advocacy. At RISD Auditorium – FREE

A jam dance workshop with Urban Bush Women celebrating “every body” and the diversity that attributes to a unique and powerful community. No prior experience required! At Brown University Ashamu Dance Studio. REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

A social evening of food, conversation and local performance capped by a studio performance by Urban Bush Woman in Nora Chipaumire’s dark swan- TICKETS REQUIRED

On 2/27, FirstWorks will present Urban Bush Women performing Walking With ‘Trane, a work emblematic of UBW’s practice of weaving contemporary dance, music, and text with the history, culture, and spiritual traditions of African Americans and the African Diaspora. Join us for a discussion of the history and role of jazz in RI. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

A 90-minute interactive dance party “soundscape through time” with Urban Bush Women’s Founder, Jawole Willla Jo Zollar. At Aurora. REGISTRATION REQUIRED.