Dasha Dmitrieva ‘27, Cole Griscom ‘25, Jack Lipsey’28, Summer Nickerson’28
Special Thanks
Brown Arts Institute
Please take a moment to note the fire exits. There are three exits on the south side of the theatre. Use of recording devices, cameras, and cell phones is not permitted. As a courtesy to patrons and performers, please silence all electronic devices. The video taping or other video or audio recording of this production by any individual not expressly directed to do so by Brown University is strictly prohibited. All or portions of Brown University events and their participants may be captured by photography or video and used for news or Brown promotional purposes.
Sue E. Perlmutter Fund for Dance
The dance program is honored and grateful for the support of the Sue E. Perlmutter Fund for Dance.
The Sue E.Perlmutter Fund brings visiting choreographers, dancers, and musicians to Brown University annually for the benefit of dance scholarship and for the enjoyment of students, faculty, and the general public. The Fund was established in loving memory of Sue E. Perlmutter P’06 by her husband, Marc E. Perlmutter ’74, P’06, as a lasting legacy to Sue, her love of dance, and her commitment to the joyful celebration of life through movement.
Sue Perlmutter (1952-2015) was born in Philadelphia and earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Connecticut before obtaining a Masters degree in Education at Tufts University in 1975. She loved music and the arts and had a particular passion for Jazz Dance throughout her adult life, both as a student and a performer. “She had a smile that lit up the studio and a contagious zest for life,” one of her instructors has observed, and “flew into class like Tinkerbell, sprinkling her positive fairy dust amongst us all.” Trained as a teacher, Sue taught Jazz Dance to American, Japanese and Southeast Asian students at several schools, including The American School in Japan, while living as an expatriate with her family in Hong Kong and Tokyo for seven years. Sue also valued diversity and, after returning to New York in 1993, she pursued her interest in learning and teaching about different world cultures while working as a cross-cultural acclimation specialist with clients moving to and from the US. The Sue E. Perlmutter Fund for Dance was established by her husband of forty years, Marc ’74, and her children Dara and Eric ‘06 in loving memory of Sue and as a lasting legacy to her lifelong study of dance.
untitled beginning
originated out of TAPS 1348 - Contemporary Dance
Studio Project
Choreography
An improvisatory score crafted by Shura Baryshnikov in collaboration with the dancers of Contemporary Dance Studio Project
Ishani Sharma ‘25 is a senior studying English and Creative Writing. Born in India, but raised in the Philippines, they have always had a hard time defining home. They are deeply interested in art that talks about issues of gender, sexuality, and marginalization. Dancer turned actor turned choreographer, they have realized that they shine brighter behind the scenes than on stage. Their life goal is to get a PhD in Shakespeare studies and a cat - both equally important to them.
Niamh Malhotra ‘27 is a sophomore at Brown studying economics. Born in Boston but raised in San Diego, she has been dancing since the age of 4 and grew up attending dance competitions and conventions. At Brown, she is a choreographer for What’s On Tap and a dancer for Synergy Dance Company. Niamh loves rollercoasters, BeReal, and being a camp counselor, but dance is by far her biggest personality trait.
Anakin Petruccelli ‘26.5 is a third year studying biology and TAPS on the dance track. This is his first time choreographing for the stage in college and he is so excited to share it with all of you. He has danced, acted, and performed in many capacities, but he loves pursuing art-making through choreography and movement. His work often features storytelling and raw emotion, but his piece in this show speaks to sexuality and joy. He hopes you have as much fun watching the show as he is having while dancing it!
Billie Miro Breskin ‘25 is a senior studying History of Art and Architecture and English. Born and raised in San Francisco, she grew up training in ballet but has since broadened her practice to include the genres of contemporary, modern, and jazz. Currently in her third year as a member of the Contemporary Dance Studio Project course, she is pleased to present her first choreographic work.
Ailey Costantino ‘25 is a senior studying International and Public Affairs with a focus on Policy and Governance. She was born and raised in Rhode Island and grew up training in nearby dance studios starting at the age of three. Her dance practice continued at Brown as part of the Contemporary Dance Studio Project course for five semesters (and counting). As a Life Enrichment Assistant at a local nursing home, Ailey encourages artisanship and movement practices among aged populations. Her choreographic work illustrates the intersection between her dance practice with Shura and her passion for life enrichment.
Autumn Tilley ‘26 is a Junior from Rochester, Massachusettes. She is studying Computer Science and Visual Art. This is her third semester as part of the Contemporary Dance Studio Project. She loves creating choreography that explores movement qualities, comfort boundaries, and intersecting interests. She is a member of the Attitude Dance Company at Brown, and had her first experience helping to create choreography for a Musical this semester.
Performance Company Bios
TAPS 1348: Contemporary Dance Studio Project (CDSP) was established in Fall of 2022 by Associate Professor of the Practice in TAPS, Shura Baryshnikov. Designed to function as a training, research, and repertory model, students are encouraged to repeat the course for credit, often multiple times, continually growing their range as movers, collaborators, and performers.
In the fall semester, Contemporary Dance Studio Project incubates student choreographic works, and in the spring, supports the creation of choreographies by faculty and guest artists. In four semesters of performance, CDSP has brought 12 new works to the stage and built a cohort of dedicated dance practitioners. The opportunity to participate in the creation and performance of new work is an essential part of our work in CDSP, and we are grateful for your audienceship.
Sock & Buskin
Sock & Buskin (S&B) is the board that selects and produces the main-stage theatre season for the Department of Theatre Arts & Performance Studies. It is a partnership between undergraduate students, faculty, and staff.
Founded in 1901 by Thomas Crosby, a professor in the Brown University Department of English, Sock & Buskin has maintained an unbroken string of performance seasons since being established.
Originally founded as an all-male organization, Sock & Buskin became a co-educational group in 1927 when it merged with an all-female theatre troupe from nearby Pembroke College.
The mission of S&B is to bring faculty, staff, and students together in the spirit of collaborative learning and artistry and to engage in open conversations among members of the Department of Theatre Arts & Performance Studies and larger Brown community in order to select and produce the works of the main-stage theatre season. Throughout this process, S&B values include collaboration, curiosity, experimentation and expansiveness, mentorship and sharing knowledge, creativity, diversity, education, and creating challenging theatre.
Sock & Buskin Board Members
Reyna Alper '25, Jayna Brown, Caroline Cahill '25, Ari Cleveland '25, Shannon Constantine, PhD Student, Connie Crawford, Sarah dAngelo, Sophia Decherney '25, Lottie Doughty '26 Renée Surprenant Fitzgerald, Gillian Gordon '26, Tabitha Grandolfo '25, Alex Haynes, Julia Jarcho, Kym Moore, Alex Nurkin, Ella Piscatello '27, B Reo, Abby Schindell '25, Brianne Shaw, Navaiya Williams '25, Nathan Winoto '25, Patricia Ybarra
Student Employees & Support Staff
THEATRE TECHNICIANS: Tylar Jahumpa, Abigail Wang
STUDENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANTS: M Adnan Aldabbagh '25, Olivia Sydnia St Bernadette '26, Kate Baker '27, Elaina Bayard '27, Ari Cleveland '25, Courtney Cummings '26, Grace Kelley '25, Jack Kolman '26, Jesse Rusche '25, Lizzy Steeves '25
JOHN STREET TECHNICAL DESIGN ASSISTANTS: Chloe Rombaut-Enriquez '27, Asya Gipson '26, Sydney Merrill '27, Kano Mosher '27 Preston Rossi '27, Nathan Scarborough '26, Abby Schindell '25, Sofia Tazi '26, Hao Wen '25, Navaiya Williams '25,
COSTUME SHOP ASSISTANTS: Ava Gell '28, Charlotte Knutsen '25, Plum Luard '26, Skye Robinson '25, Kayla Walford '26, Emma Zwall '25
PROPS COORDINATOR: Ford Rowe
EVENTS ASSISTANT: Teniayo-Ola Macaulay 25
BECKER PERFORMING ARTS LIBRARY STUDENT LIBRARIAN: Maureen Klaiber '27
CUSTODIAN: Kyle Hourahan
FRONT OF HOUSE AND BOX OFFICE ASSISTANTS: Adira Altman '25, Avery Espiritu '27, Grace Martin '26, Trinity Tolin '27
