Black Dance Legacy Mural
The Black Dance Legacy Mural celebrates the long and historic legacy of Black dancers and educators who shaped and defined a new cultural identity in the genre, right here in Philadelphia—a hybrid of traditional African movement and classical European ballet techniques—and the powerful, expressive Black dance community that has blossomed and flourished over the last century.
Visual and spoken-word artist Bernard Collins, Jr. pays tribute to the trailblazers who overcame centuries of racial gatekeeping to teach European techniques to Black students, at a time when Black dancers were excluded from white ballet institutions. Pioneering dance instructor Essie Marie Dorsey (1893–1967), who passed as white in order to circumvent racial barriers to classical ballet training, taught Black students from her own home studio, beginning in 1926. These students—including Sydney King, Marion Cuyjet, and Philadanco founder Joan Myers Brown—became members of a powerhouse generation of transformative dance educators, cultivating a lineage of excellence that echoes throughout the dance world today. In addition to these luminaries, the mural also pays tribute to Judith Jamison, a student of Cuyjet’s who rose to prominence as director of Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, and Michaela DePrince, a Sierra Leone–born prodigy who trained in Philadelphia and rose to international acclaim.
Collins, Jr.’s tribute to these icons will live in Grays Ferry, a neighborhood that mirrors the spirit of perseverance central to the still-unfolding story of Philadelphia Black dance heritage—a story of unbridled beauty, unflagging discipline, and the unbreakable rhythm of resilience in the face of systemic exclusion.
A series of upcoming events will bring the legends and stories behind the Black Dance Legacy Mural to life, culminating in a mural dedication in June 2026. Included in this roster of events is a series of “Black Dance Confabs,” which will engage attendees in conversation about Black dance and the diversity of the Black dance experience, while also providing greater visibility for aspiring dance artists. Co-conveners Karen Warrington and Jovida Hill encourage attendees to bring dance photos, dance shoes, and even tutus and African wraps, and to show off their dance moves.
See below for images from a Black History Month Afro-Cuban community dance class with Cachet Ivy on February 16, 2026, hosted by Kulu Mele African Dance & Drum Ensemble.
Upcoming Events:
in case of fire, speaks Exhibition
Mar 19 to July 3, 2026
Opening Reception: Thursday, March 19, 2026, 6–7:30 pm
Arts Lounge at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Pennsylvania
3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia
Presented by Penn Live Arts and ArtPhilly, in partnership with The Sachs Program for Arts Innovation.
Dance Confab Talk #1
Saturday, Apr 11, 2026, 2–4 pm
Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia
Chanel Holland, founder of the Chocolate Ballerina Company, will join other dancers as they share their journeys in dance. Bring your recital books, photos and your tutus, ballet slippers and African wraps.
Black Dance Legacy Mural Design Unveiling
Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 5:45–8:45 pm
Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia
Join Mural Arts Philadelphia for an evening celebrating the legacy and impact of Black dance in Philadelphia. The Black Dance Legacy Mural, by artist Bernard Collins, Jr., honors generations of dancers and educators, from Essie Marie Dorsey to Joan Myers Brown, who shaped the city’s cultural identity and global influence. Experience live performances, a film screening, and a powerful conversation, culminating in the unveiling of a new mural design rooted in history, resilience, and community.
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Patricia Reid-Merritt, Distinguished Professor of Africana Studies and Social Work
Dr. Lynette Young Overby, Professor Emerita of Theatre and Dance, University of Delaware
Karen Warrington, Former Dancer, Arts and Culture Advocate, and Writer
Dance Confab Talk #2
Saturday, May 23, 2026, 2–4 pm
Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia
More info to come.
Black Dance Legacy Mural Dedication Ceremony
Tentative Date: Saturday, Jun 27, 2026
710 South 23rd Street, Philadelphia
More info to come.
About the Artist:
Bernard Collins, Jr. is a visual artist, muralist, and spoken word artist with a BFA from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art and an MFA from University of Pennsylvania. In 2018, he received a fellowship in painting at Fleisher Art Memorial, resulting in a one-man show of his work. In March 2023, his work was featured in shows at Rutgers University and the Allen’s Lane Art Center. His Poetic Playground series, which featured live painting, spoken word, and music, was performed several times at Fleisher Art Memorial, and with the Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble in 2023. Collins, Jr. was also a featured spoken-word artist on the Sun Ra Mixtape, and a featured visual artist and designer on the Jazz Illustrated history book project.
Collins, Jr. has collaborated with choreographers, hip hop artists, dancers, and musicians to create new original work throughout the years and to this day. In addition to teaching artists of all ages for over two decades at Fleisher Art Memorial, he exhibits and performs regularly throughout the tri-state area. He lives with his wife Tamika and his two children Lily and Layla. “As artists, I feel each painting/sculpture/work of music is an opportunity to call attention to the beauty, brilliance, and complexity of the world around us, and our potential as people to be beautiful as well.”
