The Power of Proving that Women Can Be Action Heroes Too

Watching Jackie Carlson perform daredevil stunts with Streb Extreme Action, few would guess she used to be a professional ballet dancer with Dance Theatre of Harlem. “My appetite for the pursuit of perfection that ballet requires was my drive,” says Carlson, who grew up studying many forms of dance, plus gymnastics. When DTH went on […]

Philadelphia is Getting a Human Chandelier

There’s a lot to take in over the 11 days of the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts, from Ann Carlson’s Doggie Hamlet (five dancers, three dogs, lots of sheep) to Elizabeth Streb’s SEA (Singular Extreme Actions), both local premieres. One that will be tough to miss: a nightly performance by French troupe Compagnie Transe […]

In The Studio: Elizabeth Streb Is Interested in More Than Danger

Although she constantly pushes the level of risk in her work, Streb Extreme Action Company artistic director Elizabeth Streb surprisingly looks for more than just a passion for physicality when recruiting dancers action heroes. We went to S.L.A.M (Streb Lab for Action Mechanics) to get an inside look at a rehearsal, and quickly learned that […]

How This STREB Dancer Pulls Off "Impossible" Stunts

When you’re performing with a whirling cinderblock or giant hamster wheel as your partner, there is no time for second-guessing your physical fitness. Fortunately, STREB EXTREME ACTION member Cassandre Joseph knows exactly what her body needs to stay safe, even when flying off 30-foot platforms. What are the five habits that prepare her to tackle […]

What's Not Okay to Ask A Dancer to Do?

To create great work, choreographers need the freedom to tackle difficult subjects and push physical limits. But when your instruments are human beings, is there a limit to how far you should go? Five choreographers open up about where they draw the line. Elizabeth Streb ioulex, Courtesy Streb “I ask dancers to be 100 percent […]

Elizabeth Streb on Fear (Plus, Watch Her Company in Action)

A STREB Extreme Action show is nothing like a typical dance performance. Instead, it’s a full-on battle between gravity and humans. There will be risk-taking, you will probably gasp (multiple times) and you might even clench your jaw. That’s because artistic director Elizabeth Streb likes to push her dancers action heros to the max. What […]