The Philadelphia Dance Company (Philadanco) is set to dance its way into the heart of Aggieland, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m., at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University's Harrison Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public and is a part of the Lyceum Series programming.

Philadanco is celebrating 37 years of dance performances throughout the U.S. and abroad. Since its inception in 1970 the dance company has represented the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia, producing a dance repertory with passion, power, skill and diversity. Founded by Joan Myers Brown, the dance company has become one of the most sought after modern companies in the country. Brown has trained over 4,500 dancers in a comprehensive dance and performance program.

In 2000, the company along with eight other cultural organizations received permanent residency at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. Performances have been sold-out to date and audiences eagerly anticipate its annual Fall and Spring Concert Series.

In 1981 the company was one of only 15 organizations awarded the prestigious National Choreography Planning Grant. It organized the historic first two International Conferences for Black Dance Companies with over 75 representatives convening in Philadelphia. For the past 18 years, more than 600 people have assembled annually for the International Conference on Black Dance; headed by the International Association of Blacks in Dance, also founded and now chaired by Brown. This year, they have performed at venues such as Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and The Joyce Theater in New York City and has just returned from a noteworthy tour, spending the entire month of March 2006 in Germany, Luxembourg and Italy.