Event Information

This October, Washington, D.C.’s Dissonance Dance Theatre (DDT) celebrates its 20th anniversary season at the Publick Playhouse with Through the Dark, the Light Beckons, a powerful evening of movement and meaning rooted in the African American experience. Featuring beloved company repertoire and world premieres by acclaimed choreographer Shawn Short, the program unfolds in three chapters—the pulse and grit of the city’s streets; the fragments of memory that shape us; and the spirit, soul, and sophistication of everyday people.

The evening moves to a soundtrack as wide-ranging as its stories: the grooves of Earth, Wind & Fire; the velvet soul of Nancy Wilson and October London; the Afro-pop voice of Angélique Kidjo, cellist Abel Selaoco’s percussive fire; and the cinematic scores of Hans Zimmer and Max Richter. Danced by DDT’s newest company of exceptional artists with athleticism, nuance, and emotional depth, Dissonance illuminates stories both personal and collective, inviting audiences to reflect, feel, and find light within the darkness. 

Please Note: All Publick Playhouse ticket sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges.