Romeo and Juliet Soar, Thanks to Choreographer Brian Sanders, in Philadelphia Orchestra Concert

Shafts of natural lighting cut across the wood eaves of the historic Shiloh Baptist Church on Christian Street in South Philadelphia, now the phantasmagoria home studio for choreographer Brian Sanders' JUNK, Philadelphia's premier dance-acrobatic troupe. At a rehearsal last weekend, dancer Julia Higdon, looped into a rope trapeze, swooped down over her dance partner, Theodore Fatscher, as Sergei Prokofiev's music engulfed the church. Locked in an embrace with Fatscher, the couple finished off rehearsing one of the climactic moments of Sanders' choreography for his version of Prokofiev's ballet score to "Romeo and Juliet." This weekend Higdon, Fatscher and the JUNK troupe come to Verizon Hall to fly around and over the Philadelphia Orchestra as Yannick N�zet-S�guin conducts the Prokofiev score.

"It is 'Romeo and Juliet' told through the eyes of Juliet," Fatscher observes as he and Higdon finished the scene and navigated around the piles of props and apparatus from previous JUNK shows.

The troupe devised its own sets/acrobatic apparatus and created its own theatrical environments for Sanders immersive dance-theater acrobatics. Verizon Hall is shaped like the interior of a cello and the stage is open, sans any proscenium frame, with balcony seating behind the stage, so Sanders plans on using the space as a theater-in-the-round. Such attempts at partially staged operas and musical theater have been a mixed bag in terms of adding dynamic aesthetic elements in the space, but Sanders' m�tier is site-specific work that animates the environment.

Sanders digs deep into Prokofiev's score for direct cues for his interpretation, for instance, he reclaimed Prokofiev's original intent turns the swordplay between Romeo and his pals Benvolio and Mercutio into an exuberant aerial dance, instead of the Renaissance court processional that British choreographer Kenneth McMillan used in his famed Royal Ballet version.

Jared Cutler plays Benvolio and Darren Dash Robinson dances the pivotal role as Mercutio, Romeo's rakish friend, fatally wounded in a sword fight before cursing the warring families with the famous line, "A plague on both your houses!"

Meanwhile, aside from the tragic circumstances of the story, Sanders intends on keeping Shakespeare's bawdy side alive on the classical music concert stage. He also aims to be provocative: in the initial discussions with the orchestra, Sanders mentioned that there might be nudity, to which they agreed, but then reconsidered. But, at press time, Sanders might go right up to the edge with nudity. At one moment in rehearsal, Robinson took a break from operating the ropes to get measured for his costume of a short tulle tutu over a dance belt, remodeled as a Shakespearean codpiece that Sanders himself will paint.

The supporting cast includes Aaron Mitchell, Frank Leone, Kyle Yackoski, Kelly Trevlyn, Amelia Estrada, Briannon Holstein, Jess Adams. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Orchestra will bring Prokofiev's moving score to its lusty, tragic and sonic dimensions.

Sanders JUNK is one of the most successful dance troupes in Philadelphia, with a strong following happily embracing choreographer Sanders his themes and content. Sanders' troupe is a favorite of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival and his productions have been performed all over the area in unlikely environments. Last year's "Strand" took place on a mile-long trail in the rambles of Schuylkill River trail. Nor does he avoid provocative themes for the dance stage, from the bone-crushing disco of the zombies in the "Dancing Dead" to the nude post-apocalyptic baptisms in "Sanctuary." His dance memoir "Carried Away," about being HIV positive artist at the height of the AIDS epidemic, was set in the backroom of a New York leather bar backroom.

Whatever the choreography, theme or devised apparatus, JUNK's troupe of dancer acrobats are fearless, as evidenced by Higdon, who rehearsed a scene directly under the rafters of the rehearsal space, diving in and around the bars of a cagey catwalk 25 feet in the air. Expect to see such moves as Juliet soars above the choir lofts in Verizon Hall.

Philadelphia Orchestra/Brian Sanders' JUNK performances of "Romeo and Juliet" will premiere run April 4-6 in Verizon Hall - Kimmel Center, Broad & Spruce St. Philadelphia. For more information, visit the JUNK company's website.