The Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Dance will present a series of informal showings of dances and new choreography created during the past semester on April 29 and May 1, 2 and 8 in various locations in the Lewis Arts complex on the Princeton University campus. The work is from courses in ballet, African, contemporary, break dance and biomythography. All performances are free and open to the public.
The schedule for the end-of-semester showings of student work and performances is as follows:
On Monday, April 29 at 2:15 p.m. in the Roberts Dance Studio, there will be a presentation of new work from “Creating your Biomythography Workshop,” taught by Jaamil Olawale Kosoko. In this course, students used the form of an interdisciplinary workshop to approach the concept of the biomyth, as well as learning how contemporary art is situated within a social and historical context.
Princeton student present work from the course “The American Dance Experience and Africanist Dance Practices.” Photo by Zoe Zeitler.
On Wednesday, May 1 at 1:15 p.m. in the Murphy Dance Studio, students from “Introductory Ballet,” taught by Tina Fehlandt, will present their work. Students from “Introduction to Movement and Dance,” taught by Aynsley Vandenbroucke, will perform at 3:00 p.m. in the New South Dance Studio, and at 3:30 p.m. in Ellie’s Dance Studio, students from “Introduction to Breaking: Deciphering its Power,” taught by Raphael Xavier, will present new work. Students in these courses were introduced to the fundamentals of these various dance techniques and choreographic practices.
On Thursday, May 2 at 1:15 p.m. in the Murphy Dance Studio, students will present work from “Introduction to Contemporary Dance,” taught by Alexandra Beller. At 3:15 p.m., students from “Introduction to Choreography,” taught by Program in Dance director and choreographer Susan Marshall, will present their work in the Roberts Dance Studio. Focusing on contemporary practices and performance, students in these courses worked in movement-based laboratories and presented original choreography each week. Throughout the semester, students learned decision-making choreographic skills and developed dance pieces around central ideas. Students also learned to discuss and critique the work of their peers, combining readings and viewings to contextualize their studies.
On Wednesday, May 8 at 3:30 p.m., students from “The American Dance Experience and Africanist Dance Practices,” taught by Dyane Harvey-Salaam, will present new work in the Murphy Dance Studio. In this course, students focus on how the evolution of American dance aesthetics has been shaped by African American choreography and dances. Throughout the semester, studio work is complemented by readings, video viewings, guest speakers, and dance studies.
For more information on these events, the Program in Dance, or any of the more than 100 performances, exhibitions, readings, screenings, concerts, and lectures presented annually by the Lewis Center for the Arts, most of them free, visit http://arts.princeton.edu/.
