Photo by Christopher Duggan
(PRINCETON, NJ) -- McCarter Theatre Center, in partnership with the Princeton University Art Museum, presents The Center Will Not Hold, a Dorrance Dance production created by MacArthur "Genius" Fellow Michelle Dorrance and Bessie Award–winning breakdancer Ephrat "Bounce" Asherie, on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 7:30pm.
Set to original music by Donovan Dorrance, with live percussion by world-class drummer John Angeles, the production features 11 extraordinary performers deeply rooted in street, club, and vernacular dance forms, including house, breaking, hip-hop, tap, Chicago footwork, Detroit Jit, litefeet, and Memphis jookin. Through rhythm, movement, and dialogue, the work creates a bold and immersive experience that reflects both individual expression and collective energy.
“The evening-length production highlights the virtuosity of its performers and also speaks to the resilience and creativity of communities navigating chaotic times,” said Paula Abreu, Director of Presenting Programming, William W. Lockwood Jr. Chair.
Photo by Christopher Duggan
“At McCarter, we are especially proud to join the Princeton University Art Museum and a distinguished group of international partners in co-commissioning this work,” Abreu added. “The creation of a new dance piece involves a wide network of artists, collaborators, and supporters, and it is through this collective investment that such ambitious work becomes possible. This marks McCarter’s first time supporting the creation of a dance work, and it is an honor to help elevate these vital movement cultures on our stage.”
Tickets are available for purchase online or by calling Patron Services at (609) 258-2787. The evening also includes McCarter’s signature “Scholar’s Insights” talk – a free preshow conversation in the lobby at 6:30pm. McCarter Theatre is located at 91 University Place in Princeton, New Jersey.
James Steward, Nancy A. Nasher–David J. Haemisegger, Class of 1976, Director of the Princeton University Art Museum, noted : “Dance sits powerfully at the intersection of performance and the visual, and nowhere more than in the trailblazing work of Dorrance Dance, who situate themselves so effectively at the intersection of street and vernacular forms. Supporting the vitality of such work is at the heart of our work as a museum.”
Commissioning support for The Center Will Not Hold reflects a broad collaboration among leading U.S. presenters and international partner Sadler’s Wells in London. Lead commissioning was provided by the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University, with co-commissioning support from the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland; McCarter Theatre Center; the Princeton University Art Museum; and Jacob’s Pillow.
With The Center Will Not Hold, Dorrance and Asherie—two of today’s most innovative choreographers—bring together distinct movement traditions to create a bold new artistic language that is both deeply rooted and forward-looking.
McCarter is one of the country’s flagship theaters and a vibrant center for community and the performing arts. Located on the campus of Princeton University, the company is an independent nonprofit, serving as a nationally renowned, multi-disciplinary creative hub for arts and ideas, offering theatre, music, dance, spoken word, and educational programs for all ages. A two-time Tony Award winner, McCarter’s legacy of artistic excellence dates back to the theatre’s first performances in 1930. Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, Kaufmann & Hart’s You Can’t Take It with You, and William Inge’s Bus Stop all had their premieres on the McCarter stage, paving the way for a long history of collaborations with playwrights to launch remarkable works that have gone on to tens of thousands of performances, reaching millions of audience members around the world.
The company is equally revered for presenting global artists on its stages, including Alvin Ailey, Yo-Yo Ma, Samara Joy, Hasan Minhaj, Jon Stewart, Caetano Veloso, Rhiannon Giddens, Patti Smith, Esperanza Spalding, Lake Street Dive, and Herbie Hancock, among many others. Of the 100,000 community members who directly participate in the company’s work every year, more than 5,000 are students taking part in McCarter’s robust educational offerings in Princeton, Trenton, and schools throughout the region. McCarter leads with values of “justice and joy, and beauty in belonging,” creating stories and experiences that enliven minds, expand imaginations, and engage communities.
