The Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Dance at Princeton University will present two may be one, a combined performance of two original choreographic works created and directed by Princeton seniors Sofia Bisogno and Aleksandra Kostic. Performances will be held February 20, 21, and 22 at 8:30 p.m. in the Hearst Dance Theater at the Lewis Arts complex on the Princeton University campus. The performances are free and open to the public; however, advance ticket reservations are recommended.
two may be one represents Bisogno and Kostic’s independent thesis work in the Program in Dance. The show consists of two parts, “Sock Exchange,” choreographed by Kostic, and “-rrosa,” choreographed by Bisogno. Both choreographers draw musical inspiration from their experiences as first-generation Americans while exploring the ways in which they see relationships play out on stage.
Abby de Riel, a member of the cast in rehearsal for senior Alexandra Kostic’s new choreographic work, “Sock Exchange,” that uses the exchange of clothing to represent the experiences individuals have with themselves and others. Photo by Jon Sweeney
Kostic uses the exchange of clothing to represent the experiences individuals have with themselves and others. Her piece hopes to express how cloth can be freeing, comforting, or burdening, all depending on the person with whom and the place where one finds oneself. Using both set choreography and prop-specific improvisational prompts, the dancers in Kostic’s piece accept clothing from each other just as one accepts offerings, both good and bad, from the people in their lives.
Meanwhile, Bisogno uses tango and other music from her parents’ home country of Uruguay as a soundscape to explore the ways in which cultural memory is passed down from immigrants to their children and the “culture shock” that arises from balancing two origins. In particular, with tango, she questions the forms of intimacy traditionally shown in the performance of her culture and aims to challenge these stereotypes with the tenderness of touch.
Kostic is a senior in the Department of Computer Science, pursuing a certificate in the Lewis Center’s Program in Dance. Despite her love for algorithmic procedure, both her process and her work recognize the value in the moments where people veer off course, and how these moments often result in either hilarity or in awful self-reflection. Her work plays with differences in groundedness, as she is, “at my most comfortable with feet or bottom firmly planted on the floor, but I know that discomfort often leads to delightful discoveries.” She adds that participation in the past senior thesis works of fellow students has influenced her understanding of improvisation and community in dance performance.
The cast in rehearsal for senior Sofia Bisogno’s new choreographic work, “-rrosa,” inspired by tango and other music from her parents’ home country of Uruguay. Photo by Jon Sweeney
Bisogno is a senior in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, pursuing a certificate in the Lewis Center’s Program in Dance. Her choreography expands gestural work into larger movement that plays with accumulation as a representation of memory. Her process depends heavily on collaboration with her dancers as they respond to prompts about ways individuals interact/touch/show tenderness to the people with whom they feel close. Bisogno’s experiences in the Program in Dance, performing works by Francesca Harper, Rebecca Lazier, Marguerite Hemmings, and Cameron McKinney, serve as inspiration for both her movement and her process.
The student cast includes seniors Jorina Kardhashi, Katie Schneer, and Maria Stahl; juniors Fabiola Corral, Chris Villani, and Alex William; sophomore Abby de Riel; and graduate students Peter Wang and Siena Dumas. Lighting for the production is designed by guest artist Tess James. The production stage manager is Mary-Susan Gregson. Rebecca Lazier, Aynsley Vandenbroucke, and Rebecca Stenn are the project’s faculty advisors. Musical composition for both sections was created by Ryan Wolfe and Vince di Mura.
Free advance tickets are available through University Ticketing at tickets.princeton.edu. Remaining tickets will be available at the door prior to each performance.
To learn more about this event, the Program in Dance, and the more than 100 other performances, exhibitions, readings, screenings, concerts and lectures presented each year at the Lewis Center, most of them free, visit arts.princeton.edu.
