philadelphia, PA – Choreographer Rennie Harris and contemporary dancer Megan Bridge are challenging perceptions of age, race, and artistic boundaries with Stunning Human Lies: Chapter 4, a new evening-length solo work premiering at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. The collaboration marks Harris’s first time choreographing a full-length solo piece and allows bridge, in her mid-40s, to showcase a career peak, defying expectations about longevity in dance.
The work intentionally sparks dialog around appropriation and the complexities of racism, aiming to “demystify the exoticism of racism,” according to Harris. Bridge notes the process has empowered her to explore vulnerability and truth in a way that resonates across diverse backgrounds.
Harris, known for his work in hip hop, approaches the choreography with a mindful awareness of his position as a Black male artist and his past experiences collaborating with women. Bridge describes his direction as “super-clear” and “fast,” offering a satisfyingly decisive creative process.
A key element of the piece is harris’s reframing of hip hop’s origins. he explains the term “hip” derives from the Wolof word meaning “to open your eyes, to be aware,” positioning hip hop as a fitting vehicle for Bridge’s self-exploration.
Both artists emphasize the mutual learning experience, framing the collaboration as a demonstration of the value of becoming “bilingual” – embracing new perspectives and understanding different cultural languages. Bridge cites fellow Philadelphia-based dancers Am [Gottschild], Brigitta and Manfred as inspirations for continuing a professional dance career beyond age 40, stating, “I intend to keep dancing professionally my whole life.”