Cornell dance students are preparing for “Penumbra: 2026 Annual Spring Dance Presenting Series,” a performance of original dance work hosted by Performing and Media Arts (PMA) in the College of Arts and Sciences, set for March 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Class of ’56 Flexible Theatre, Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts.
“Penumbra,” is comprised of two dance pieces: “seemingly perfect, radiant” by faculty member Danielle Russo, assistant professor of the practice in performing and media arts (A&S); and “Society” by guest choreographer Babatunji Johnson, whose movement language blends hip hop, ballet, breaking and contemporary dance.
“Penumbra refers to the light at the edge of shadow,” Russo said. “Conceptually, this anchors the two works of the evening, both of which delve into the shadow self, specifically during an era marked by fear, surveillance and uncertainty. How do we navigate and protect ourselves? What layers and dimensions of ourselves to we reveal, and how do we safeguard our vulnerabilities without losing them?”
Learning Johnson’s blended style has been an engaging challenge for the dancers, combining several different methods of dance into one piece, said Shamara Nesarajah ’28, a member of the cast. And the piece by Russo incorporates spoken word, film and other input from the performers in addition to dance.
“We’re not just moving and dancing – we’re using the mic and talking, using our vocals and acting,” Nesarajah said. “Using so many aspects of performance, throwing it into one, makes it powerful.”
Jeffrey Palmer, associate professor of performing and media arts (A&S) contributed film work. Original costumes by Sarah Bernstein, Resident Costume Designer at the Schwartz Center and senior lecturer in Performing and Media Arts, incorporate layers the dancers carry and shed during the performance. In Johnson’s work, “Society,” dancers wear identical overcoats and jackets, with high collars that obscure their faces, speaking to erasure of the individual. Layers, when they are peeled away, show vibrant colors underneath.
“In some ways it is a study of weight: what does it mean to carry weight or take the burden for oneself or another?” Russo said. “There’s an optimism to the conclusion of the work.”
PMA’s annual spring dance series is a culmination of a yearlong theme. This year the theme DANCING HOME/LAND had guided live performances, guest artist visits, classes and experiences, a dialogue about migration, place and memory, Russo said, that also allowed students to imagine the futures they would like to build or be a part of.
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