The Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Dance at Princeton University presents On Being, an evening of two distinctive dance works by Princeton seniors Becca Berman and Leah Emanuel that explores various means of being in the world by reflecting on the self, the mind, and society. Performances are February 16, 17 and 18 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 and mezzanine. An assistive listening system is available and spoken poetry in the show will be available as text online. Guests in need of other access accommodations are invited to contact the Lewis Center at least one week in advance at LewisCenter@princeton.edu.
The cast of Becca Berman’s new work “Frame of Mind” in rehearsal for the performances on February 16-18. Photo credit: Jon Sweeney.
“Frame of Mind” by Berman explores the puzzling relationship between a person and their mind with the mind seen as a mysterious place that only the individual has full access to, and so no one else can ever fully know or experience it. “Frame of Mind” immerses the audience in this mysterious mental world. Navigating some of the mind’s darker tendencies, the piece grapples with just how complicated the relationship between the mind and the self is. Berman’s cast includes fellow seniors Kyle Ikuma and Lucy Sirrs, juniors Theresa Lim and Kristen Umbriac, and sophomores Ethan Arrington, Emilia Santianni, Clara Toujas-Bernate and Belinda Wu.
“Artistic Wandering” by Emanuel considers the defining questions of the self and its intimate interconnectivity with society. Through weaving together multiple different artistic mediums, the piece contemplates individuals’ capacity to define the self and the difficulties that evolve when one feels lost within cultural coordinates. In navigating these complexities of life, beauty is found in the fluctuations through one’s own wandering. The cast includes Emanuel along with senior Naomi Benenson, junior Olivia Buckhorn, and spoken word artist Sara Sacofsky.
The trio cast including Leah Emanuel in her new work “Artistic Wandering” in rehearsal for performances on February 16-18. Photo credit: Jon Sweeney.
Berman, from Dublin, Ohio, is majoring in philosophy and pursuing certificates in dance, cognitive science, and linguistics. She began dancing at the age of three and became interested in choreography in middle and high school. “Frame of Mind” was prompted by her ongoing interest in the mind from both philosophical and psychological perspectives. The project has given Berman the opportunity to explore her questions and musings about the mind in a creative context for the first time. At Princeton she is formerly the artistic director of Princeton University Ballet and is a member of BodyHype. As a part of the annual Princeton Dance Festival, she has performed works by Rebecca Lazier, Peter Chu, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar and Germaine Acogny staged by Samantha Speis. After graduation, Berman plans to pursue a career in public policy and to continue dancing, teaching dance, and choreographing.
Emanuel is an anthropology major from Chicago pursuing certificates in environmental studies and dance. She started dancing at age 12 and has since attended a number of professional dance intensives including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Arts Umbrella, and Movement Invention Project. During her time at Princeton, Emanuel has worked with a broad range of choreographers through the Princeton Dance Festival, including Caili Quan, Francesca Harper, Zvi Gotheiner, and Malcolm Low. She is also a member of Disiac Dance Company. After graduation, Emanuel intends to continue dancing while also pursuing a career in renewable energy.
Berman and Emanuel are being advised by faculty member Rebecca Stenn with lighting design by faculty member Tess James and music direction by Vince di Mura.
The Program in Dance, now in its 52nd year, and has grown to include five full-time and nine adjunct faculty and offers 23 different courses serving more than 400 students each year and 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 earning a certificate 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.
Per Princeton University policy, all visitors are expected to be either fully vaccinated, have recently received and prepared to show proof of a negative COVID test (via PCR within 72 hours or via rapid antigen within 8 hours of the scheduled visit), or agree to wear a face covering when indoors and around others.
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.
