Leah Stein has been creating site works for the past 10 years in Philadelphia, across the country and abroad. She is drawn to the interaction between nature and architecture, people and the environment and has developed her own language for communicating the inter-connectedness of disperse elements through sound and movement. She began On Site Philadelphia, an annual program to partner with local historic sites to further develop the impact of site specific dances.

While architecture and nature often fuel her process, GATE has an added dimension. In particular, the fact that the prison holds so many stories and personal histories, gives a richness and depth to the site that I want to tap into and illuminate." Long time collaborator and percussionist Toshi Makihara will be central to the creation of the live sound score along with musician Dan Peterson. Video and installation artist Edward Dormer is involved in the visual design throughout the site. The performance travels in unexpected ways through the remarkable building and onto the grounds bordered by an immense 40' wall surrounding the entire building.

GATE is made possible with grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, DANCE ADVANCE; a program of the PEW Charitable Trusts administered by the University of the Arts, and The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

Leah has also garnered rave reviews for her stage performances, most recently after a November performance of Carmina Burana in Girard College's™ 1933 Greek Revival chapel, along with the 100 voice chorus the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia.