Eleone Dance Theatre is a Philadelphia artistic treasure that keeps getting discovered. EDT's appearance at last year's "African Threads"-themed DanceBoom! burst out with stellar theatricality, combining rich cultural expression with jazz, funk and urban chamber dance with spiritual subtexts. Their annual alternative-to-Nutcracker piece Carols in Color had a sold-out run last year.

Founded by E. Leon Evans II, who died in 1998, the company's current co-directors—Shawn-Lamere Williams and Sheila A. Ward—are keeping his legacy alive. After tour dates in several cities, their 10th anniversary program, "Jumping to Higher Heights," winds up here with a black-tie gala Friday at the First District Plaza with fans like Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell and Maurice Hines attending.

Williams took five from rehearsal last week to talk about the dancers and the dance. "Our second company, Eleone Connection, will also be performing with us, as well as returning alumni," he said. "We treat each other like family and everybody is a star. These dancers are passionate and spirited. They could be anywhere and they want to be with us."

About running the company, Williams said, "I didn't know if I could do this. But every year our audiences grow." And Evans' artistic vision lives on. "He had a mission, and if you had two left feet but made him cry he took you in this company."

The program includes choreography by Christopher L. Huggins as well as Evans' signature Oluwa set to Roots music by Quincy Jones, which was choreographed for EDT's original incarnation Leja Dance in 1981. Williams was the second lead male after Evans in that work and makes a cameo for this revival. He also adds a section called "Paradise" (which received a grant from Dance Advance) to his work Sweet As the Morning's Flow set to music by Bobby McFerrin and jazz vocalist Shirley Horn. There is also a new ballet scored to a song cycle in tribute to Luther Vandross by guest choreographer Molly Misgalla. "And a few surprises," Williams adds.