Sacred Ground

by Janet Anderson

Dance

The floor that Anne-Marie Mulgrew and Dancers leap onto for their spring concert is solid limestone. Forget the proscenium arch — they'll be performing under the Romanesque arches and stained glass of Philadelphia Cathedral. This small troupe with a long local history (20 years!) has danced in the majestic setting before. The founder-choreographer loves working in this "beautiful space" she calls "hard but comfortable." Readily adapting to the cathedral's realities, as she has with all her site-specific works, Mulgrew simply says, "It is what it is." At the cathedral, Mulgrew's challenges included "developing material without a lot of jumps," and rehearsing in spurts since the site is in constant use.

Dances Celebrating Beauty and Gender is the broad title covering Mulgrew's overall impression when she surveyed her completed program. A Serenade to Eve After Rodin, one of four Philadelphia premieres, is a collaboration between Mulgrew and composer-musician Daniel Dorff. The duo worked together several years ago, creating a piece for the Rodin Museum, and decided to pick up where they'd left off. Dorff's original score will be performed by classical guitarist Keith Calmes and his ensemble, who will accompany two other chamber-sized works, Quiet Kissing and Three.

Mulgrew's reset her wacky Three Ladies in Waiting, originally performed in an alley at the Fringe Festival, adapting it to a more formal space. The Big Dance showcases the full company, including Mulgrew, who makes "a fleeting appearance." "I like to still show up," she laughs, "but basically I'm more interested in pushing younger dancers."

Dances Celebrating Beauty and Gender, Fri., May 27 and Sat., May 28, 7:30 p.m., $10-$15, Philadelphia Cathedral, 38th and Chestnut sts., 215-462-7720.