Princeton Dance Festival Reimagined
Presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Dance on
November 23, 2020, at 8:30 PM (EST)
Welcome HOME: The Princeton Series (2020)
Please note — this is a LIVE performance.
Choreographer and Director: Peter Chu in collaboration with the Dancers
Music Composition & Live Performance: Mike Gordon
Melody and Lyrics: Diane M. Dowda
Vocals: Roger Van der Poel
Additional Vocals: Miriam Gittens, Jenni Gordon, Krystal Matsuyama-Tsai, Martha Nichols, Chelsea Thedinga
Costume Design: Mary Jo Mecca
Lighting Consultant: Aaron Copp
Virtual Stage Manager: Roger Van der Poel
Dancers: Becca Berman ’23, Sophie Blue ’21*, Runako Campbell ’21*, Mei Geller ’24, Jonathan Golden ’22*, Sam Grayson ’21*, Laura Haubold ’24, Margaret King ’22*, Liam Lynch ’21*, Gigi Pacheco ’23, Emily Ryu ’21, Camryn Stafford ’23, Ally Wonski ’22*, Thea Zalabak ’21*
*denotes a certificate student in the Program in Dance
Special Thanks: chuthis. artists Miriam Gittens, Jenni Gordon, Krystal Matsuyama-Tsai, Martha Nichols, Chelsea Thedinga, Roger Van der Poel
Discussion with the artists to follow performance.
NOTE: For the best experience, please plan to watch this performance on a computer. Watching on a phone or tablet may provide limited viewing possibilities. Also make sure that your computer is running updated Zoom software (version 5.4 or higher).
Creative Team Bios
Photo by Levi Walker
PETER CHU (Guest Choreographer) was born in the Bronx, New York, and raised in Cocoa Beach, Florida. He began his training as a competitive gymnast, later nurturing his artistry at Dussich Dance Studio. Upon graduation from The Juilliard School, he performed with BJM Danse, EZdanza, Aszure Barton & Artists, Kidd Pivot, and in Celine Dion’ s Vegas spectacular, A New Day. Peter can be seen as the lead in Christina Perri’s Jar of Hearts music video. In 2008, Peter formed a Las Vegas project-based dance company, chuthis., which showcases the work of Chu and his collaborators. chuthis. also provides movement education programs which foster technical and artistic development. Chu’s choreographic awards and commissions include the Hector Zaraspe Prize, A.C.E. Capezio Award, and Hubbard Street Dance International Commission Project. He was also named a Blodgett Distinguished Artist by Harvard University for 2018. Additionally, Peter has served as the Rehearsal Director for Nederlands Dans Theater 2, and as a Guest Rehearsal Director for NDT1. Peter has created works for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Charlotte Ballet, Staatstheater Augsburg, Germany, Orlando Ballet Theatre, Hubbard Street 2, Giordano Dance Chicago, Charlotte Ballet II, SYTYCD, Houston MET Dance, New Dialect, SALT Contemporary Dance, HSPro, Harvard University, Point Park University, and The Juilliard School, among others. Last season, he premiered works for Giordano Dance Chicago and Gibney Dance Company, and choreographed for Cirque du Soleil’s Vitori in Malta. He is currently commissioned to create for Paul Taylor Dance Company and will develop a new work with his own company, chuthis.
MIKE GORDON (Drummer) grew up in Northport, New York, where he started playing drums at age 8. He attended the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s of Music in 2011. While at Purchase, Mike had the honor of studying under drummers Kenny Washington, John Riley and Richie Morales. After College, Mike moved to New York City, working as a music performer, educator, and dance accompanist. Notably, Mike has had the pleasure of performing at Bowery Ballroom, The Blue Note, Smalls, Music Hall of Williamsburg, and Rockwood Music Hall, to name a few. In 2018 Mike relocated to Austin, Texas, where he continues his work as a freelance performer, educator, and composer.
ROGER VAN DER POEL (Virtual Stage Manager) is a Portuguese-Dutch award-winning dancer. Roger started his dance education at the National Conservatory of Lisbon at the age of eighteen. His dance career includes Ballet Gulbenkian, Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève and, for the last fourteen years, the acclaimed Nederlands Dans Theater. Roger’s performance repertoire includes existing works by/creations with Sol León & Paul Lightfoot, Crystal Pite, Jiri Kylián, Gabriela Carrizo, Franck Chartier, Marco Goecke, Ohad Naharin, William Forsythe and Mats Ek, among many others. Roger guest teaches for dance schools and programs around the world and has been on regular faculty at NDT Summer Intensive and chuthis. Movement Intensive. He co-remounted León & Lightfoot’s Sleight of Hand with Zurich Ballet, Oslo Ballet and Paris Opera Ballet. Roger was awarded the Dutch Zwaan for best dance performance of 2008 and the Encouragement Prize 2007 by the Stichting Dansersfonds’79 in Amsterdam.
Programs for Individual Performances
View the Main Dance Festival Program information »
View the Program for December 3 performance led by Francesca Harper »
View the Program for December 4 performances led by Rebecca Lazier + Dean Moss »
View the Program for December 5 performances choreographed by Merce Cunningham staged by Silas Riener + choreographed by Olivier Tarpaga »