World Premiere
May 31 - June 3, 2023
Philadelphia, PA
Meditating on Black Genius, Justice, and Joy
An original performance created by poet Ross Gay, composer Tyshawn Sorey, new music ensemble Yarn/Wire, and director Brooke O’Harra.
Produced by Girard College in Philadelphia, PA.
'Be Holding' is staged at center court in the Girard College Armory | Photo by Ryan Collerd
Yolanda Wisher performs the text of Ross Gay's poem, 'Be Holding' | Photo by Ryan Collerd
Girard College students helped develop original choreography for 'Be Holding' | Photo by Ryan Collerd
David Gaines performs the text of Ross Gay's poem, 'Be Holding' | Photo by Ryan Collerd
Russell Greenberg is 1/4 of piano and percussion ensemble Yarn/Wire | Photo by Ryan Collerd
Derrick Bannister '25 and fellow Girard College students perform alongside the professional artists | Photo by Ryan Collerd
Jaelyn Handy '23 and fellow Girard College students perform alongside the professional artists | Photo by Ryan Collerd
David Gaines and Yolanda Wisher | Photo by Ryan Collerd
David Gaines | Photo by Ryan Collerd
Inspired by Philadelphia 76ers basketball legend “Dr. J” and his iconic baseline scoop in the 1980 NBA Finals, Be Holding wonders how the imagination, or how our looking, might make us, or bring us, closer to each other. How our looking might make us reach for each other. And might make us be reaching for each other. And how that reaching might be something like joy.
Why Girard College?
Be Holding is produced by Girard College, an historic tuition-free boarding school for underserved youth that was at the center of Philadelphia’s civil rights movement. For 175 years, its mission has been to transform lives through education.
Girard College is committed to serving as a Campus for the City, seeking to activate resources that engage diverse communities throughout Philadelphia and lead conversations on issues of educational equity and social justice, particularly through the arts.
Meet the Artistic Team
-
![]()
Ross Gay
Author of Be Holding
-
![]()
Tyshawn Sorey
Composer
-
![]()
Brooke O'Harra
Director
-
![]()
Yarn/Wire
New Music Ensemble
-
![]()
Yolanda Wisher
Poet / Performer
-
![]()
David A. Gaines
Poet / Performer
-
![]()
Catching on Thieves
Visual Artist
-
![]()
Matthew Deinhart
Video Design
-
![]()
Eugene Lew
Sound Designer
-
![]()
Itohan Edoloyi
Lighting Designer
-
![]()
Nic Labadie-Bartz
Stage Manager
-
![]()
Hannah Chan
Stage Manager
Residencies
The Be Holding project was designed to be developed during a multi-year residency, where the artists met at Girard College in the Fall and Spring each year to collaborate as a team and engage students as performers, designers, documentarians, and managers.
At Girard College, performing and visual arts are part of the curriculum every day. Students in grades 1-12 study general music theory and fine art, participate in choir and band, put on concerts and plays, and explore electives like songwriting and media design. Art is a way for our students to express themselves, process difficult experiences, and ignite social change.
The Arts at Girard
