The Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Theater and Music Theater at Princeton University presents El ritmo que nos libre: Das almas assassinadas aos espíritos vivos (The Rhythm that Frees Us: From Murdered Souls to Living Spirits). This original choreopoem and exhibition by senior Carrington Symone Johnson is an immersive experience where rhythm becomes a tangible force for liberation, identity, and unity for all participants. The interactive exhibition of artifacts is open daily March 25 through 29, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the CoLab at the Lewis Arts complex on the Princeton campus. Performances are March 29 at 7 p.m. and March 30 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m, also in the CoLab. Both are free and open to the public; no tickets are required to visit the exhibition, however tickets are required for the performances through University Ticketing. The CoLab is fully accessible. Guests in need of access accommodations are invited to contact the Lewis Center at LewisCenter@princeton.edu at least one week prior to the event date.
Princeton students (left to right) Justus Wilhoit, Oriana Nelson, Carrington Johnson, and Runnie Exuma in rehearsal for El ritmo que nos libre. Photo credit: Jehiyah Coles
El ritmo que nos libre represents Johnson’s (her/their+) work in pursuit of a certificate in the Program in Theater and Music Theater and is connected to her thesis work in her major in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. Johnson notes she is interested in exploring the intersection of the arts and social justice and using her creative capacity to engage, inform and inspire individuals to activism. This project centers on current communities of the African Diaspora present in Cuba, Brazil, Panama, and Puerto Rico. Drawing inspiration from the vibrant cultural traditions of these communities, where music and dance become expressions of political resistance, identity navigation, and connection for afro-descendant peoples, El ritmo que nos libre tells the story of a lost community that rediscovers its collective identity through a collection of artifacts, each piece an active memory and a living testament to the enduring spirit of communities uprooted and reborn. Audiences will become collaborators by exploring the interactive installation showcasing the artifacts— musical instruments, paintings, traditional garments—their stories, and musical rhythms and experimenting with traditional sounds, learning from practitioners, and contributing creative reimagination to the space. The performances will be in a mix of Spanish, Portuguese and English, however Johnson assures fluency in these languages is not required in order to participate.
Johnson received funding through the Lewis Center’s Mallach Senior Thesis Fund last summer to support her research visit to Cuba. She also received funding through the Howard and Suzanne Kauffmann Fund for Spanish and Portuguese Studies in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, as well as the Department of African American Studies, Program in Latin American Studies, Program for Community-Engaged Scholarship, and the Effron Center for the Study of America to support her research in Brazil, Puerto Rico and Panama. Johnson is also pursuing certificates in African American studies and Latin American studies.
Junior Layla Williams is directing the performance. As a theater director, writer, and performer she is interested in combining her research in African American studies with theater to investigate the relationship between the role of Black theaters and the socio-political landscape in Florida. Her previous work in theater includes assistant directing the new student-written play to all the babies… with the Lewis Center, co-directing Bring It On, and directing Memphis, both with Princeton University Players.
The student cast includes Gianmarco Miranda Bueno, Runnie Exuma, Oriana Nelson, and Justus Wilhoit with Jehiyah Coles stage managing. Lecturer in Theater Chesney Show is faculty advisor.
Visit the Lewis Center website to learn more about this event, the Lewis Center for the Arts, and the more than 100 public performances, exhibitions, readings, screenings, concerts, lectures, and special events presented by the Lewis Center each year, most of them free.
