THE GRAND MASTER OF HIP-HOP DANCE COMES TO SANTA ROSA!

Santa Rosa, CA (September 25, 2007) – Rennie Harris, the grand master of hip-hop dance, brings his unique and riveting brand of hip-hop dance theater to Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa, October 19 at 8pm. Founded in 1992, Rennie Harris Puremovement encompasses the rich and diverse African-American traditions of the past while simultaneously presenting the voice of a new generation through a dedication to preserving and disseminating hip-hop culture. Harris, a Philadelphia native and former dancer for hip-hop artists like Run-DMC, uses his first hand knowledge of street culture and dance to create a pure dance form that transcends the popular roots of hip-hop.  Built around an ensemble of b-boys and hip-hop artists, the company will perform a retrospective of Harris’ fifteen years of dance, featuring their acclaimed repertory of funk, breaking, popping, locking, and all the jaw dropping twists and turns anyone could handle. 

Rennie Harris (artistic director, choreographer, and director) is well versed in the vernacular of hip-hop which includes the various techniques of B-boy (misnomer "break dancing"), house dancing, stepping, and other styles that have emerged spontaneously from the urban, inner cities of America like the North Philadelphia community in which he was raised. Harris has brought these "social" dances to the "concert" stage, creating a cohesive dance style that finds a cogent voice in the theater. He is a powerful spokesperson for the significance of "street" origins in any dance style. Intrigued by the universality of hip-hop, Harris seeks inspiration from other forms and performance art.

Since the age of 15, Rennie Harris has taught workshops and classes at many schools and universities including University of the Arts, UCLA, Columbia College, and Bates College. He was voted one of the most influential people in the last one hundred years of Philadelphia history and has been compared to twentieth-century dance legends Alvin Ailey and Bob Fosse. His group of dancers and their infectious brand of movement have toured around the globe.

PRE-SHOW DISCUSSION, October 19, 7pm FREE with admission

Come speak with the man on top of the hip-hop heap! This is your chance to meet hip-hop’s leading ambassador Rennie Harris and members of his troupe in person before the performance. Pre-show discussions provide unique insight into the hearts and minds of performers. Participants come away with a greater understanding of the performance and a more personal relationship with the artists. This rare opportunity is the first in a new series of pre-show artist discussions at Wells Fargo Center for the Arts and is included with the cost of admission.  

EVENING PERFORMANCE October 19, 8pm $10, $15

Rennie Harris Puremovement performs October 19 at 8pm, at Wells Fargo Center for the Arts.  Called ‘raw’ and ‘explosive” by The Village Voice, Rennie Harris and his troupe will burn up the stage with upside-down head spins, skidding shoulder stands, and their skilled vernacular of hip hop. Tickets, just $10 and $15, are available at the box office located at 50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa, by phone at 707-546-3600, or online at www.wellsfargocenterarts.org.

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The non-profit Wells Fargo Center for the Arts is the North Bay's premier arts organization presenting world-class performances, contemporary sculpture, festivals, and events to 500,000 residents and visitors each year. Together with its resident companies, the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts provides more than 100 annual performances, serves to present intriguing contemporary art, and is one of California's largest providers of arts education programs for children. Located in the heart of the Wine Country, the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts campus features spacious auditoriums, an intimate cabaret, and outdoor festival grounds with a big-top tent. Unlike many similar organizations, the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts is not aligned with any federal, state, or municipal entity-such as a city or university. The Center was created by and is supported by the community it serves, making it uniquely positioned as an independent, entrepreneurial-focused, non-profit arts organization. We serve to Enrich, Educate and Entertain - Connecting Our Community through the Arts.