Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Philadelphia has long been home to the matriarchs of Black ballet. Now, a Grays Ferry mural honors that history.

“A Legacy of Dance Excellence” pays tribute to the likes of Essie Marie Dorsey, Sydney King, Marion Cuyjet, and Philadelphia Dance Company founder Joan Myers Brown — all trailblazers who inspired generations.

When designing the mural, visual artist and spoken word performer Bernard Collins, Jr. said he wanted to capture the color and liveliness often reflected on performance stages.

Here, Collins explains what it takes to bring the mural, a collaboration with Mural Arts, to life.

📝 by Earl Hopkins / Staff
📹 by Gabe Coffey / Staff

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