Princeton Campus Becomes Stage for Site-Specific Dance and Visual Arts Class

Students in the “Site: Place in Art, Performance and Dance” course taught this spring by Colleen Asper and Rebecca Lazier performed their original works in locations across campus during an end of semester showing on April 30.

Two performers apply makeup in a reflective surface of a statue outside

Kate Stewart and Aunyae Romeo perform their piece, "Wash Your Face," at the Double Sights sculpture by Walter Hood on Scudder Plaza outside the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. Photo by Jon Sweeney

A performer dresses in a transparent rain parka

Aunyae Romeo joins Kate Stewart to perform their piece, “Wash Your Face,” at the Fountain of Freedom by James FitzGerald on Scudder Plaza outside the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. Photo by Jon Sweeney

A performer wearing a transparent rain parka walks towards a large fountain

A wet performer wearing a transparent rain parka screams in ankle deep water of a fountain

Two performers wearing rain parkas stand under a fountain sculpture and look upset as they get wet.

Kate Stewart and Aunyae Romeo perform their piece, "Wash Your Face," at the Fountain of Freedom by James FitzGerald on Scudder Plaza outside the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. Photo by Jon Sweeney

A large fountain in front of an academic building pours water on 2 performers who cower at the bottom

A wet performer wearing a transparent rain parka crawls through ankle deep water in a fountain

A wet performer wearing a transparent rain parka pours water out of a purse

Kate Stewart joins Aunyae Romeo to perform their piece, “Wash Your Face,” at the Fountain of Freedom by James FitzGerald on Scudder Plaza outside the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. Photo by Jon Sweeney

Someone walks by a art hanging on the wall of a small gallery

“fluid retentions” by Lauren Olson on display at 185 Nassau. Photo by Jon Sweeney

A projector displays art on a white curtain

“fluid retentions” by Lauren Olson on display at 185 Nassau. Photo by Jon Sweeney

“fluid retentions” by Lauren Olson on display at 185 Nassau. Photo by Jon Sweeney

A dancer wearing a black veil performs in a field

Storm Stokes performs “Decorative Beasts” at the Firestone Library Garden. Photo by Jon Sweeney

Storm Stokes performs “Decorative Beasts” at the Firestone Library Garden. Photo by Jon Sweeney

A dancer performs in a field in front of a building

Storm Stokes performs “Decorative Beasts” at the Firestone Library Garden. Photo by Jon Sweeney

A dancer performs outside in front of a black sheet with the words "Decorative Beast" stitched on it

Storm Stokes performs “Decorative Beasts” at the Firestone Library Garden. Photo by Jon Sweeney

A performer addresses a crown with a smile

Vernon Collins explains his work, “Silently Strolling Through History,” at Nassau Hall. Photo by Jon Sweeney

Vernon Collins performs his work, “Silently Strolling Through History,” at Nassau Hall. Photo by Jon Sweeney

A performer walks proudly in font of Nassau Hall

Vernon Collins performs his work, “Silently Strolling Through History,” at Nassau Hall. Photo by Jon Sweeney

Two performers use the stairs inside a building

Aunyae Romeo and Lauren Olson perform the work, “Senses of Us,” by Jana Park on the stairs of Campbell Hall in Rockefeller College. Photo by Jon Sweeney

A performer feels the wall in an inside staircase

Jana Park performs “Senses of Us” by Jana Park on the stairs of Campbell Hall in Rockefeller College. Photo by Jon Sweeney

Kate Stewart participates in the work, “Senses of Us,” by Jana Park on the stairs of Campbell Hall in Rockefeller College. Photo by Jon Sweeney

Peyton Werner walks a slackline during his performance of “I Walk the Line” outside Little Hall. Photo by Jon Sweeney

Peyton Werner walks a slackline during his performance of “I Walk the Line” outside Little Hall. Photo by Jon Sweeney

Four performers dressed in black color a sidewalk with chalk surrounded by large statues with animal heads

Vernon Collins, Jana Park, Kate Stewart, Easton Tan and Bella Butler perform “Zodiac Fusion” by Tan at the Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads sculpture by Ai Weiwei outside New South. Photo by Jon Sweeney

A performer colors a sidewalk with chalk

Bella Butler performs in “Zodiac Fusion” by Easton Tan at the Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads sculpture by Ai Weiwei outside New South. Photo by Jon Sweeney

Easton Tan performs in his piece “Zodiac Fusion” at the Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads sculpture by Ai Weiwei outside New South. Photo by Jon Sweeney

People stand around and lay on the floor of a dark dance studio lit up by LED lights in geometric patterns

The audience enjoys “Pieces Don’t Just Fall into Place” by Mike Scornavacca in Roberts Dance Studio. Photo by Jon Sweeney

In this new course offering, students utilized the bisecting lenses of dance and visual art to examine site-based work in land art, environmental and ecological art, urban intervention, community engaged practices, and public art. The students engaged in movement practices and material explorations as a form of research into sites on and off campus, learning how to collaborate and negotiate between place and person. This showing of work included eight performances throughout the Princeton campus including the Fountain of Freedom on Scudder Plaza, the Firestone Library Garden, Nassau Hall, Rockefeller College and more.