Princeton Dance Festival Showcases Celebrated Choreographers and 45 Student Dancers

Photo Highlights

Two dancers performing with a vivid red background, one crouched low and the other extending a leg high.

"COVET" choreographed by Christopher Ralph. Photo by Larry Levanti

Dancers in expressive poses on a stage with a blue background.

"COVET" choreographed by Christopher Ralph. Photo by Larry Levanti

A dance performance featuring a solo dancer in the foreground and a group of dancers in semi-darkness in the background, all on a dimly lit stage.

"COVET" choreographed by Christopher Ralph. Photo by Larry Levanti

Two dancers in motion on a dark stage, wearing flowing blue costumes.

The premiere of "the ground seems eruptive" choreographed by Netta Yerushalmy. Photo by Larry Levanti

Group of dancers in dark, shimmering outfits performing an expressive dance routine on a dimly lit stage.

The premiere of "the ground seems eruptive" choreographed by Netta Yerushalmy. Photo by Larry Levanti

Two dancers performing onstage, dressed in coordinating dark costumes, engaging in a dynamic contemporary dance move.

The premiere of "the ground seems eruptive" choreographed by Netta Yerushalmy. Photo by Larry Levanti

Two dancers leap in the air on blue background.

Excerpts from "Gloria" choreographed by Mark Morris and staged by Tina Fehlandt. Photo by Larry Levanti

Five dancers perform on stage with a blue background, wearing blue and gray outfits.

Excerpts from "Gloria" choreographed by Mark Morris and staged by Tina Fehlandt. Photo by Larry Levanti

A dancer in a gray outfit performs a dynamic jump on a blue stage.

Excerpts from "Gloria" choreographed by Mark Morris and staged by Tina Fehlandt. Photo by Larry Levanti

Dancers performing in a studio, one in an arabesque pose, others seated or standing around.

The premiere of "Andante for Princeton" choreographed by Pam Tanowitz. Photo by Larry Levanti

Dancers performing on stage in colorful costumes.

The premiere of "Andante for Princeton" choreographed by Pam Tanowitz. Photo by Larry Levanti

Dancers performing a contemporary ballet piece on stage, dressed in various colors of dancewear with barres in the background.

The premiere of "Andante for Princeton" choreographed by Pam Tanowitz. Photo by Larry Levanti

Five dancers on a dark stage stand on one leg with arms stretched pointing in both directions.

The premiere of "Acting Brand New" choreographed by Omari Wiles. Photo by Larry Levanti

Five dancers in colorful outfits performing on stage with a red background.

The premiere of "Acting Brand New" choreographed by Omari Wiles. Photo by Larry Levanti

A dynamic group of dancers performing on stage, dressed in colorful, retro-inspired costumes.

The premiere of "Acting Brand New" choreographed by Omari Wiles. Photo by Larry Levanti

A group of dancers in dark costumes performing a synchronized contemporary dance routine on a dimly lit stage.

Excerpt from "non sequitur paramour" (2015) choreographed by Kyle Abraham and staged by Stephanie Terasaki. Photo by Larry Levanti

Three dancers in hold lunge and hold their hands up in dramatic lighting.

Excerpt from "non sequitur paramour" (2015) choreographed by Kyle Abraham and staged by Stephanie Terasaki. Photo by Larry Levanti

The 2025 Princeton Dance Festival returned to the Berlind Theatre at McCarter Theatre Center for three shows at the end of November featuring new and repertory works by nationally and internationally recognized choreographers, performed by more than 45 Princeton students in an energetic program of dances from a surprising range of dance forms.

The festival kicked off with “COVET,” a new work by sought-after contemporary dancer and choreographer Christopher Ralph and performed Mary Burdick ’26, Bebe Cassidy ’28, Jacob Cowan ’29, Anne Lheem G2, Sally Menaker ’26, Maddie Rohde ’27, Mariel Shapiro ’27, Renata Suarez ’28, and Jessica Waters ’26.

Princeton Arts Fellow and Guggenheim Fellow Netta Yerushalmy premiered “the ground seems eruptive” with Lilly Fridlyand ’29, Mia Jolly ’27, Abigail Leibowitz ’26, Somiya Schirokauer ’27, Livia Shneider ’28, Tobias Seabold ’28, Kate Willey ’27, and Siqi Xu G1.

Program in Dance faculty member Tina Fehlandt staged an excerpt of the iconic repertory work, “Gloria,” by the legendary Mark Morris featuring dancers Ainara Bouzas ’29, Emma Coulter ’29, Amber Kao G1, Pippa LaMacchia ’26, Nidhi Lawange ’28, Lulu Mangriotis ’29, Tasman Moskowitz ’26, Aashna Nayani ’29, Gwendolyn Nellis ’29, Chloe Z. Pendergrass ’29, Esme Quirk ’29, Helena Richardson ’26, Jonah Stone ’29, and Cici Yu ’28. Fehlandt was a founding, long-time member of Mark Morris Dance Group.

Choreographer Pam Tanowitz, who has created dances for New York City Ballet and The Royal Ballet, premiered “Andante for Princeton” featuring Christine Blackshaw G5, Bebe Cassidy ’28, Alba Mastromatteo ’29, Tasman Moskowitz ’26, Gwendolyn Nellis ’29, Esme Quirk ’29, Helena Richardson ’26*, Olivia Taylor ’26, and Cici Yu ’28.

A new Vogue and House work, “Acting Brand New,” by Omari Wiles featured Ainara Bouzas ’29, Phia Dennis ’28, Enzo Kho ’26, Raffaella Merino ’29, Chloe Z Pendergrass ’29, Tobias Seabold ’28, and Jessica Waters ’26. Wiles, whose choreography has been featured by Janet Jackson and Beyoncé, is choreographing for Cats: The Jellicle Ball on Broadway in 2026.

Closing the night was a restaging of “non-sequitor paramour,” a contemporary work by Artistic Director of the internationally acclaimed A.I.M. dance company Kyle Abraham, staged by Stephanie Terasaki. This performance featured dancers Vanessa Brunjes ’29, Ella Colby ’26, Jacob Cowan ’29, Spencer Fitzgerald ’29, Lori Gallo ’28, Makenzie Hymes ’26, Mia Jolly ’27, Olivia Kasule ’26, Pippa LaMacchia ’26, Sally Menaker ’26, Alexander Picoult ’26, Somiya Schirokauer ’27, Maya Sessions ’26, Mariel Shapiro ’27, Gisele Sonnier ’27, and Renata Suarez ’28.