A Dance That Questions Every Kind of Belief

Rennie Harris, a street‑dance choreographer from Philadelphia, has launched a new piece called “Losing My Religion. ” The show is part of a national arts series that marks America’s 250th birthday and also fits into Harris’ final year at Penn Live Arts. The work is not about a single religion but about any set of ideas people hold as true. Harris grew up Catholic, dreamed of becoming a priest, and later explored other faiths like Rastafarianism and Buddhism. He found that all belief systems share a simple message: treat others well.His title, “Losing My Religion, ” hints at the idea that people can feel disconnected when they learn their long‑held beliefs are not as solid as once thought. Harris shares personal moments—such as a 1996 trip to Gambia where he felt oddly judged for being white—and uses them to illustrate how identity can feel unstable. The choreography mixes breaking, hip‑hop, and house dance with a strong focus on the Black experience. Harris says he wants his audience to think, not just watch. In earlier shows he would start with intense political themes and then switch to flashy movement, but this time he keeps the message front and center. The performance is aimed at adults who can appreciate both the artistry and the deeper questions about what we believe in our lives.