Ronald K. Brown
(Photo by Julieta Cervantes)

The Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Dance at Princeton University announces three artists as Caroline Hearst Choreographers-in-Residence for the 2022-2023 academic year: Ronald K. Brown and the team of Rashaun Mitchell and Silas Riener. All three artists were appointed as lecturers in dance and are teaching repertory works through fall dance courses that will be performed at the Princeton Dance Festival in December, while also developing new work with access to the Center’s studios and other resources.

Launched in 2017, the program provides selected professional choreographers with resources and a rich environment to develop their work and offers opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to engage with diverse creative practices. The artists share their work and processes with the Princeton community through workshops, conversations, residencies, open rehearsals, and performances.

Silas Riener

Brown founded EVIDENCE in 1985, whose mission is “to promote understanding of the human experience in the African Diaspora through dance and storytelling and to provide sensory connections to history and tradition through music, movement, and spoken word, leading deeper into issues of spirituality, community responsibility and liberation.” He has worked with Mary Anthony Dance Theater, Jennifer Muller/The Works, as well as other choreographers and artists. Brown has set works on Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Jennifer Muller/The Works, Jeune Ballet d’Afrique Noire, Ko-Thi Dance Company, Philadanco, Muntu Dance Theater of Chicago, Ballet Hispánico, TU Dance, and Malpaso Dance Company.

Rashaun Mitchell

Mitchell and Riener are New York-based dance artists. Their work involves the building of collaborative worlds through improvisational techniques, digital technologies, and material construction. They met as dancers in the Merce Cunningham Dance Company and since 2010 have created more than 25 multidisciplinary dance works including site-responsive installations, concert dances in venues such as the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Barbican Centre, and The Walker Arts Center, gallery performances, and dances for film.

The 2022 Princeton Dance Festival will be performed on December 2-4 at McCarter’s Berlind Theatre. Visit arts.princeton.edu for more information.