The Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Dance at Princeton University presents Momentum, an evening of two distinctive dance works by Princeton seniors Tierra Lewis and Sophie Main. Performances are February 20, 21 and 22 at 8:30 p.m. at the Hearst Dance Theater in the Lewis Arts complex on the Princeton campus. The Hearst Dance Theater is an accessible venue with wheelchair and companion seating in the front row. The February 20 performance will be open-captioned. Guests in need of other access accommodations are invited to contact the Lewis Center at least one week in advance at LewisCenter@princeton.edu.
Tierra Lewis ’25 in rehearsal for her new work, “Sync.” Photo credit: Jon Sweeney
“Sync,” by Lewis, considers what it means to dance together. Blending club, street, and screen dance styles, the work highlights the connections between hip-hop’s past, present, and future. It calls on the audience to reflect on their engagement with Black art forms—examining reactions of enjoyment, bias, and appropriation—while navigating the boundaries between physical and virtual spaces of collective movement. Through this journey, “Sync” serves as a reflection and a challenge, questioning our awareness of both how and why we move. The piece marks the culmination of Lewis’s research and embodied practice in Black dance forms, including masterclasses in Los Angeles, observations in Paris, France, and deepening her knowledge through courses, co-curricular classes, and dialogues at Princeton. “Sync” combines house, hip-hop, pop, and electronic music by Black artists to explore the social, political, and cultural contexts that gave rise to these interconnected dance styles. Lewis’ cast, in addition to herself, includes Andrew Hwang ’25, Phia Dennis ’28, and Sam Yamashita ’26.
Renata Suarez ’28 and Maya Sessions ’26 rehearse “Tank,” choreographed by Sophie Main ’25. Photo credit: Jon Sweeney
“Tank,” a new work by Main, investigates the constraint and catharsis of stage performance. Across an exhilaratingly arduous movement score, four dancers challenge their bodies, the audience, and each other, confronting at once the value and detriment of virtuosity. A celebration of exhaustion, “Tank” captures the will to perform—to see and be seen—through pain, sweat, fear, and joy. Main’s cast includes Azariah Jones ’25, Madison Qualls ’25, Maya Sessions ’26, and Renata Suárez ’28.
Lewis is a senior from Westlake Village, California. She is majoring in the School of Policy and International Affairs, focusing on the regulation of artificial intelligence and social media platforms, with minors in dance and American studies. She has trained in multiple styles of dance yet found a specific passion for hip-hop in high school. At Princeton, she has performed in original works by Omari Wiles, Ishita Mili, and Rennie Harris (assisted by Rachel Snider) and has learned from many artists through the co-curricular hip-hop series led by alum and guest artist Liam Lynch, Class of 2021. She is a member of diSiac Dance Company, BodyHype Dance Company, and the Black Arts Dance Company. She plans to continue studying the connection between communication, culture, and technology after graduating from Princeton.
Main is a senior from New York City. She is a Practice of Art major in the Department of Art and Archaeology with a minor in dance. She began her training in the pre-professional program of the Ailey School and performed in additional repertory works by Doug Varone throughout high school. At Princeton, she has performed in original works by Ronald K. Brown, Shamel Pitts, and Yue Yin while pursuing modern and contemporary coursework through the Program in Dance. Main is a member of the student group BodyHype Dance Company and a photographer and videographer for Más Flow Dance Company, another student group. She plans to expand her choreographic practices alongside her pursuits in the art business upon graduation from Princeton.
Lewis is being advised by Lecturers in Dance Rebecca Stenn, who also serves as the choreographers’ joint production advisor, and Davalois Fearon. Main is being advised by Professor Susan Marshall and Lecturer in Dance Aynsley Vandenbroucke. Lighting is by theater faculty member Tess James, and stage management is by Mary-Susan Gregson. Music direction and editing for Lewis’ piece is by Vince di Mura and composition for Main’s piece is by guest artist Ryan Wolfe. Costume design is by Lewis and Main in consultation with guest artist Mary Jo Mecca.
The Program in Dance, now in its 54th year, has grown to include five full-time and nine adjunct faculty and offers 23 different courses serving more than 400 students each year with a curriculum that includes introductory courses, courses suited for dancers at the pre-professional level, as well as courses in dance studies and interdisciplinary contemporary practices. Seniors minoring in dance undertake a course of study and performance, co-curricular classes, technical hours, and an independent project such as choreographing a new work, performing a new or repertory work by a professional guest choreographer or faculty member, or a work of dance scholarship.
Visit the Lewis Center website to learn more about the Program in Dance and the more than 100 performances, exhibitions, readings, screenings, concerts, and lectures presented each year by the Lewis Center for the Arts.
