TREMBLED TO WALK ON
​Alexandria Nunweiler

Photos by Baby Viking Photography

trembled to walk on (formerly known as Reverence for a False History​) is a discovery that comes to life.
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Blending history and poetry with dance, the project unearths the real and false histories of events, discoveries and reports in New England - specific to the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem ‘The Skeleton in Armor’ and the real skeleton in armor found buried in a seated position in Fall River, MA in 1831. Speculation swirled and surrounded this discovery as historians questioned who the person was, how they lived, and where they originated. Today we ask what this discovery can tell us about how we preserve ideas, traditions, and historical perspectives.

As this is a lesser known Longfellow poem and historical discovery, this project seeks to aid new conversations and bring to light more of the intricacies of Massachusetts history, uplifting the voices of those who are often “othered”. It will allow audiences to reflect on their own thinking and possibly peel away their own views of those who came before us. More deeply, this project asks of its creators and viewers: How do we view historical discoveries made in Massachusetts? How are art pieces and writings used to shape our present day view of the past? What is intentionally or accidentally being left out or rewritten in our history?

The project manifests in three parts:

1. Duet performance, trembled to walk on (20min): Choreographed by Alexandria Nunweiler in collaboration with Angelina Benitez and Katrina Conte; Taking its name from a line in the poem, the performance blends dance, music, poetry and history with a reading of The Skeleton in Armor, an adapted version of Arthur Foote's score inspired by the poem, and a duet which blends a multitude of historical reality and imagined lore into a dynamic piece of the past come to life.
2. Lecture demonstration (60min): Featuring the duet performance, a presentation of sources, and how historical sources are turning into movement.
3. Experiential workshop, Dancing History Through Poetry (90min): Utilizing the Henry Longfellow poem The Skeleton in Armor as a guide, this movement workshop peels apart art and history, providing a space to experience a creative practice first-hand. Together we ponder how art preserves history, create new movement phrases inspired by poetry, and ultimately uncover who and what is being left out. 

This project is supported by the Friends of Longfellow House / Washington’s Headquarters. The performance and workshop will be presented at the Longfellow House / Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site in Cambridge, MA on June 8, 2025.

UNDONE
​​Katrina Conte

Photos by Olivia Moon Photography/@halfasianlens, courtesy of Alive Dance Collective

Undone (formerly Voices Unbroken) is a multidisciplinary project that embodies the process of unraveling or deconstructing deeply ingrained ideas, traditions, or convictions that have been embedded in one's identity over the course of abusive and strained relationships. At its core, the work involves questioning, unlearning, and dismantling long-held assumptions to make way for new perspectives, growth, or transformation. These themes are amplified through live performances of poetry and music woven throughout a series of contemporary dance solos. In addition to the performance, the project will manifest as a community workshop and an online collection of lyrics, poetry, and journal entries shared with consent from project participants. In-process excerpts of the dances were performed in March 2025, and the community workshop and project premier will take place on October 25, 2025 at MAGMA Gloucester.

This project is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts' New England Dance Fund, with generous support from the Aliad Fund at the Boston Foundation, and the Gloucester Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.