The Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO!)  was founded in 1970 by Joan Myers Brown. It was created out of a need to provide performance opportunities for Black dancers, who were at the time, systematically denied entrance to many local dance schools and had even fewer professional performance outlets.

PHILADANCO!  has since grown into a professional dance company that is recognized across the nation and around the world for its artistic integrity, superbly trained dancers, and captivating performances. Established on principles of providing opportunity, inclusion, and hope,  PHILADANCO!   bridges cultural divides and consistently performs before sold-out audiences of people from diverse backgrounds and communities.

PHILADANCO!  is a company representing a history of “first” accomplishments. In 1988, Joan Myers Brown, along with the  PHILADANCO! staff launched the 1st International Conference on Black Dance Companies with the support of The Pew Charitable Trusts, University of the Arts, the Pennsylvania Arts Council, the City of Philadelphia and the Coalition of African American Cultural Organizations. Eighty professionals attended in Philadelphia, PA, and Ms. Brown felt that a gathering of the Black dance community would serve not only her needs but also the needs of other Black  dance professionals.  In 1991, in Dayton, Ohio, at the then annual Conference,  The International Association of Blacks in Dance  (IABD) formalized and instituted an Emergency Fund for IABD artists and companies.  IABD, as a service organization, addresses the needs of the African American dance community in a supportive environment and produces an annual conference and festival. In January 2020, PHILADANCO!  and the IABD staff hosted the 32nd Annual Conference and Festival in Philadelphia where over one thousand dance professionals attended.