Friday, January 23, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
Alice Jepson Theatre
Modlin Center for the Arts

Tonight's performance will last approximately 60 minutes, without intermission.

Shadow Cities is made possible in part by Lead Commissioning support provided by Modlin Center for the Arts at the University of Richmond.

Artistic Director: Ephrat Asherie 
Choreography: Ephrat Asherie, in collaboration with the company
Original Music: Arturo O'Farrill
Lighting Design: Kathy Kaufmann
Costume Design: David Dalrymple
Artistic Advisor: Nicolas Minas

Performed with Live Music 
Dancers: Ephrat "Bounce" Asherie, Manon Bal, Ron "Stealth-1" Chunn, Teena Marie, Val "Ms. Vee" Ho, Eriko Jimbo, Dorren "Moglii" Smith
Musicians: Arturo O'Farrill (piano), Eduardo Belo (bass), Juan Carlos Polo (percussion), Larry Bustamante (woodwinds)

Company Manager: Bridget Caston
Production Manager and Lighting Supervisor: LD DeArmon
Audio Engineer: Will Stanton 
Prop Supervisor: Val "Ms. Vee" Ho

World Premiere
November 14, 2025 at the Zellerbach Theatre - Annenberg Center in Philadelphia, PA

Premiere Cast 
Dancers: Ephrat "Bounce" Asherie, Manon Bal, Ron "Stealth-1" Chunn, Teena Marie, Val "Ms. Vee" Ho, Eriko Jimbo, Dorren "Moglii" Smith
Musicians: Arturo O'Farrill (piano), Eduardo Belo (bass), Juan Carlos Polo (percussion), Alfredo Colon (woodwinds)

Ephrat Asherie Dance (EAD) collaborate with Grammy® Award-winning pianist and composer Arturo O'Farrill on its newest creation, Shadow Cities, a contemplative and multi-faceted reflection on the beauty, vastness and joy of the in-between. With a cast of seven dancers and four musicians, the performers explore the myraid ways they feel split between cities, memories and generations, encountering their most enlivened selves in unexpected moments. EAD, rooted in a multitude of Afro-diasporic vernacular dances, explores the expansive narrative qualities of breaking, hip hop, house and waacking to tell stories and find new modes of expression. Featuring live music by Arturo O'Farrill and friends, Shadow Cities is a conversation between O'Farrill's vast compositional voice and EAD's dynamic, rigorous and idiosyncratic choreography.

Founded in 2012, New York City based Ephrat Asherie Dance (EAD), is made up of a dynamic group of multi-faceted street and club dance artists. A dance company dedicated to honoring the ethos of the underground club community, EAD is rooted in Black and Latine vernacular dance, including breaking, hip hop, house, waacking and the New York style hustle. A two-time National Dance Project awardee, EAD has presented work at 92NY, Apollo Theater, ChangMu International Festival (Korea), El Festival Internacional Cervantino (Mexico), Firatarrega (Spain), Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, Joyce Theater, Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences, La MaMa, La Mercé  Festival (Spain), River to River Festival, New York City Center, New Victory Theater, New York Live Arts, Spoleto Festival USA, Vail Dance Festival, White Bird, Works & Process at the Guggenheim, and The Yard, among others. EAD is committed to celebrating and bringing awareness to the history, expansiveness and vastness of street and club dance culture by creating and sharing innovation performance works, teaching workshops and classes, and creating platforms for dialogue across the field. 

For more information please visit: www.ephratasheriedance.com | IG: @ephratasheriedance |

Facebook: Ephrat Asherie Dance

Exclusive USA Tour Representation:

PENTACLE
Sandy Garcia
sandyg@pentacle.org
www.pentacle.org

PENTACLE SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram and X: @pentacledance #pentacleroster

Thank you for helping us create a distraction-free experience Please silence all electronic devices. We also ask that you refrain from taking any photos or videos. 

Hearing Assistance Available 

Modlin offers complimentary Assistive Listening Devices for use by patrons at any seat. Receivers may be obtained from any house management staff. 

E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation

H. G. Quigg Fund

Louis S. Booth Arts Fund

Cultural Affairs Fund

Shadow Cities is made possible by Lead Commissioning support provided by Modlin Center for the Arts University of Richmond, Jody and John Arnhold, and in part by Harkness Dance Center's Artist-in-Residence Program at 92NY. Co-commissioning support is provided by Penn Live Arts Accelerator Program, Duke Arts, La Jolla Music Society and the ProtoStar Foundation. Additional support provided by O'Donnell-Green Music and Dance Foundation, One World Fund, The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc, New Music USA's Organization Fund and New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Development support provided by the Studio Artists program of the NYC Public School's Arts Office. This work was developed, in part, during a residency with the John Jay College as part of the CUNY Dance Initiative. Additionally, Ephrat Asherie Dance gratefully acknowledges the support from members of its Commissioning Circle, with lead gift provided by Deborah and Charles Adelman. 

Special thanks to dedicated EAD colleagues and supporters Sandy Garcia, Bridget Caston, Amy Lam, Sarah Long Holland, and Owen Burnham. 

Support the Modlin Center for the Arts at University of Richmond as we continue setting the stage for creative experiences that deepen our understanding and bring us together. Donations help bring renowned artists to our stages, support the creation of new works, and expand engagement opportunities. 

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