BUNK BEDS
Directed by Tristan Koepke
PERFORMERS:
JAMES BARRETT
EMILIA BRUNO
TRISTAN KOEPKE
MARC MACARANAS
DANIEL MIRAMONTES
BENNY OLK
MUSIC:
ETHAN PHILBRICK
SOUND DESIGN:
TRISTAN KOEPKE
ADDITIONAL SOUND:
CURTIS THOMAS
DRAMATURGY:
REBECCA STEINBERG
DESIGN:
AUDREY KASTNER
PRODUCTION:
NATHAN GRISWOLD
NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR AND DRAMATURG
Bunk Beds is a new response in a series of choreographic works originally devised by Tristan Koepke and Benny Olk. Their first work, There’s Only One Bed (2023), explored themes of queer longing, desire, devotion, masculinity, and melancholy, inspired by the creative and amorous relationship between Merce Cunningham and John Cage, Instagram thirst traps, speculative masculinities, and romance novel tropes. Their sequel, There’s More Than One Bed (2024) continued to interrogate what devotion and commitment to love, longing, and process can look like when you make room for more than two. Drawing inspiration from Andie Nordgren’s manifesto for relationship anarchy, Bunk Beds (2025) reiterates and expands the choreographic material and creative inquiries from those previous works with a film installation and performance that ruptures and refracts into something uniquely new. Seeking to reframe and transcend conventional narratives of Cunningham and Cage’s collaborations, which often diminish their queer romance and radicalism, Bunk Beds catalyzes the ways in which LGBTQ+ artistic legacies are preserved, embodied, and reimagined. Some material in this work directly references rehearsal sketches from Cunningham’s Pictures (1984) and scores from Cage’s Song Books. The creation, development, and touring of this work has been supported by the Merce Cunningham Trust, New England Foundation for the Arts, McGinty Fund for the Humanities (Bates College), Roger C.Schmutz Fund for Faculty Research (Bates College), University of Iowa, University of Maryland, Bowdoin College, Middlebury College, Fly on a Wall, Jacob’s Pillow, and the CANDYBOX Dance Festival. Additionally, Bunk Beds was made possible through the support of our audience community. Tax-deductible contributions to Big Boy Dance directly sustain our artists and future work. Thank you!
BIOGRAPHIES
James Barrett (he/they) is a Brooklyn-based performer, choreographer, and teacher. He received his BA in Dance from Point Park University. After graduating James performed works by Ohad Naharin, Fernando Melo, Marguerite Donlon, and Aszure Barton. During his time with New Dialect under the direction of choreographer Banning Bouldin, he worked with Rosie Herrara, Idan Sharabi, Joy Davis, and Yin Yue. He was a guest artist with LED Boise in the Fall of 2022. He collaborated with Faye Driscoll on “Weathering,” which premiered at New York Live Arts and will go on tour nationally and internationally in 2024. James choreographed works for multiple dance companies including Texture Contemporary Ballet, Visceral Dance Chicago, and New Dialect. Since moving to New York in 2021 he has led workshops in embodiment practices. He worked as rehearsal assistant and teaching artist at various programs including Jazzgoba Dance Academy (Costa Rica), Perry-Mansfield, Tulane University, and The Juilliard School.
Emilia Bruno (they/them) is an Italian-American, queer movement artist and educator currently based in College Park, MD. They have been performing and collaborating with Tristan Koepke since 2021 and hold additional performance credits with Kendra Portier/BANDportier, MK Ford, Shapiro & Smith Dance, Zenon Dance Company, Slo Dance Company, and Brit Falcon/Falcon Dance. Emilia is the Associate Director of the Young Dancers Intensive at the Bates Dance Festival as well as Research Assistant for Mariclare Hulbert Consulting in which they support the communication, marketing, and public relations efforts of nationally-renowned dance artists and organizations. Emilia received their BFA in Dance and BS in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and is currently pursuing their MFA in Dance at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Nathan Griswold (he/him) hails from the northwest coast of the United States. Submerged in music and performance from a young age, he developed a deep appreciation for the arts. As a teenager, he gravitated towards ballet, completing his formal dance training at the Ben Stevenson Academy in Houston, Texas, in 2002. His professional career includes tenures with companies such as the Houston Ballet, Alberta Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Ballett Augsburg, and Nationaltheater Mannheim. In 2014, Nathan co-founded Fly on a Wall in Atlanta, GA, a contemporary arts platform dedicated to supporting team members' work and helping artists present their creations. Over the past 12 years, Fly on a Wall has produced numerous original performances, installations, and collaborative projects with various artists and organizations. Beyond his work with Fly on a Wall, Nathan is an active freelance performer, creator, and teacher. His choreographic works have been performed by Ballett Augsburg, Atlanta Ballet, Stadt Theater Ulm, at the Kaatsbaan International Dance Center, and in the National Theater Festival in Bucharest, Romania. Additionally, he has appeared in several independent films and on the TBS sitcom "The Detour." Nathan teaches dance nationally and currently leads ballet training at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. For more information, please visit www.nathangriswold.net and www.flyonawall.buzz.
Audrey Kastner (she/her) is a lighting designer originally from Brooklyn, NY, who has been living and exploring in Portland, ME since 2020. If you run into her outside the theater, you’re likely to hear about her cat Buffy, various Star Trek series, and whatever song she has on repeat that day.
Tristan Koepke (he/him) is a choreographer, scholar, dancer, and educator. He is an Assistant Professor at Bates College. His creative work has been presented by SPACE, INVERSE Performance Art Festival, Cove Street Arts, Patrick’s Cabaret, The Wooden Floor, CANDYBOX Dance Festival, Performance Art Initiative, The School for Contemporary Dance and Thought, Bryant Lake Bowl, Bates College, and The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. He has performed in dance works by Chris Schlichting, Vanessa Anspaugh, luciana achugar, Doug Varone, Heidi Henderson, Annie Kloppenberg, Matthew Cumbie, Christina Robson, Kendra Portier, and was a member of Zenon Dance Company from 2011-2015 and 2017-2019. He was the Associate Director of the Bates Dance Festival’s Young Dancers Intensive from 2016-2025. He holds an MFA in Dance
from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Marc Macaranas (he/him) is a choreographer, media designer and dance futurist. His creative practice includes choreography for proscenium stages and digital screens, projection and installation design, and Spotify canvases. His work has been seen in Chicago, St. Louis, Iowa City and the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. As a dancer, Marc has performed nationally and internationally with companies that include Lucky Plush Productions, Luna Negra Dance Theatre, DanceWorks Chicago, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, and RUBBERBANDance Group. He holds a BA from the University of California, Irvine and an MFA from the University of Iowa. Currently, Marc is an Assistant Professor at Northern Illinois University where he serves as Dance Program Coordinator in the School of Theatre and Dance.
Daniel Miramontes (he/him) is a bright, whimsical force from Los Angeles, CA, currently based in College Park, MD. His work spans performance, improvisation, dance creation, teaching, and crafting with materials and fabrics. Daniel has recently collaborated with artists such as Kendra Portier/BANDportier, Zoe Cushman Walders, Laurel Jenkins, and his longtime friend alexx shilling. He earned his BFA in Dance from California State University, Long Beach, and will receive his MFA in Dance from the University of Maryland, College Park, in May 2025.
Benny Olk (he/him) is a performing artist based in Minneapolis with an interest in contemporizing and contextualizing American modern and post-modern dance. As a member of Lucinda Childs Dance Company, he performed reconstructions of pieces such as Dance and Available Light. He performed in reconstructions of Crises and Suite for Five among others by Merce Cunningham, and has premiered works by Moriah Evans and Anthea Hamilton. He has taught Cunningham technique at the University of Minnesota, Balettakademien (Stockholm), and Stockholm University of the Arts. Benny holds a BFA in Dance from NYU and an MA in New Performative Practices from Stockholm University of the Arts.
Ethan Philbrick (he/him) is a cellist, artist, and writer. He holds a PhD in performance studies from New York University and has taught at Pratt Institute, Muhlenberg College, New York University, Wesleyan College, Yale University, and The New School. He is currently curator-in-residence at The Poetry Project. Rebecca Steinberg (she/her) is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and researcher. She received her B.F.A. in dance and her B.A. in psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Rebecca was a freelance artist in New York before joining New Dialect 2015-2021. She is currently a choreographic associate and education liaison for the company. Rebecca is a 2021 Tennessee Individual Artists Fellow as well as a 2019 Jacob’s Pillow Choreography Fellow. She has most recently been commissioned to create new work for Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, And Artists, Room to Room, OZ Arts Nashville, New Dialect, and Nashville Ballet. She is a collaborator alongside visual artist Jana Harper on a multidisciplinary performance and community engagement project titled This Holding. Rebecca leads workshops and master classes for young dancers, adults of all abilities, and professionals worldwide. She works for Vanderbilt University as a curriculum design consultant, currently on a National Science Foundation research grant exploring the educational potential of dance for mathematics learning. Rebecca is an M.F.A. candidate at the University of Maryland in the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies.
Rebecca Steinberg (she/her) is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and researcher. She received her B.F.A. in dance and her B.A. in psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Rebecca was a freelance artist in New York before joining New Dialect 2015-2021. She is currently a choreographic associate and education liaison for the company. Rebecca is a 2021 Tennessee Individual Artists Fellow as well as a 2019 Jacob’s Pillow Choreography Fellow. She has most recently been commissioned to create new work for Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, And Artists, Room to Room, OZ Arts Nashville, New Dialect, and Nashville Ballet. She is a collaborator alongside visual artist Jana Harper on a multidisciplinary performance and community engagement project titled This Holding. Rebecca leads workshops and master classes for young dancers, adults of all abilities, and professionals worldwide. She works for Vanderbilt University as a curriculum design consultant, currently on a National Science Foundation research grant exploring the educational potential of dance for mathematics learning. Rebecca is an M.F.A. candidate at the University of Maryland in the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies. Curtis Thomas (he/him) is a multidisciplinary performer originally from New Orleans. He has performed in the Broadway and National Tours of the musical Waitress, where he was also the assistant choreographer. He has also performed in dance companies across the country such as David Dorfman Dance (NYC) and New Dialect (TN). He believes in the transformative power of the performing arts and dance as a vehicle for the healing and empowerment of all people.
Curtis Thomas (he/him) is a multidisciplinary performer originally from New Orleans. He has performed in the Broadway and National Tours of the musical Waitress, where he was also the assistant choreographer. He has also performed in dance companies across the country such as David Dorfman Dance (NYC) and New Dialect (TN). He believes in the transformative power of the performing arts and dance as a vehicle for the healing and empowerment of all people.
--------
REFERENCES AND CITATIONS
80s Aesthetics 🌴🍉(@neontalk). “
📼 🎻 Get into the right monday mood with
some melancholic dance moves • follow @concepttalk and @neontalk #melancholic
#melancholicdance #neontalk #retrodance #nostalgicdance #sundaymood
#obscuremedia #obscure.” Instagram, November 28, 2022.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Clg4SH3gbUt/
Braden, Duke (@dukebraden2). “@officialstephenlomas.” Instagram, October 18,
2022. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj3i-7bpcJq/
Cage, John. Love, Icebox. Love, Icebox: Letters from John Cage to Merce Cunningham.
Edited by Laura Kuhn. New York: John Cage Trust, 2019.
Cage, John. Song Books. New York: Edition Peters, 1970.
Crouser, Ryan (@rcrouser). “Big season best yesterday (training) and finding some
better positions. Big throws coming soon! This is a new full variation that I’ve been
working on that’s been productive. I’ll do a breakdown for subscribers later soon!
#nike #shotput #trackandfield #athletics #gym #sport #olympics #teamusa #reels
#strengthtraining #rotation.” Instagram, January 17, 2023.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CnhdtygpqCr/
Cunningham, Merce. A Pictures Book for John Cage Xmas 1984. New York: John
Cage Trust, 2012.
Daley, Tom (@tomdaley). “The dive that won us the GOLD! 🥇🇬🇧 #DWS2019
@fina1908 @graceeereid.
” Instagram, May 22, 2019.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxxrBjhnT7j/
European Athletics (@europeanathletics). “Jumping into 2023 like… 🤪Wishing
everyone a wonderful, happy and successful year. 🥳#athletics #trackandfield
#athlete #triplejump.” Instagram, January 1, 2023.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm4LJroqk2M/
Gravity & Other Myths (@gomcircus). “Can’t forget Trick Tuesday ❤️🔥Ft.
@jackmanson9 & @lachlanjharper 🎶 Beats by @las_mar_mu Only 4 more shows of
this Simple Space French tour!
🇫🇷#tricktuesday #asimplespace #gomcircus #gravityandothermyths
#circusaroundtheworld #acrobatics #circus #france.” Instagram, December 13,
2022. https://www.instagram.com/p/CmHxqbhPLtu/
Huge Studs (@huge_studs). “Wanna warm Up before…(Your answer) #workout
#workhard #training #muscled #bodybuilder #fitnesslife #fit #gym #hunk
#menstyleguide.
” Instagram, November 29, 2022.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Clj1PaxsJ-S/
Kissick, Carter (@classic_kissick). “Didn't even think I could bend like this anymore.
Still babying the sore hip but I can still pose! 😅 Sadly I won't be the One Rep Man
anytime soon 😤 Shirt and shorts from @raskolapparel go hard as usual! Discount
code: CLASSIC.” Instagram, December 2, 2022.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Clr0j70JmM9/
Ramirez, Edgar (@edgar._rramirez). “Video of Two Men Dancing.” Instagram, January
12, 2023. https://www.instagram.com/p/CnTXrbMvmNO/
Reed, Gus (@gus_reed). “🌎
.
” Instagram, January 13, 2023.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CnXIv9srPi4/?img_index=1
Rodrigeuz, Nick (@nickyrod247). “Video of Men Wrestling.” Instagram, December 22,
2022. https://www.instagram.com/p/CmeltBaJWz_/
Schaffer Brody Hudson (@bossbabybrody). “Freestylin’ his way into weekend
rehearsals! 🕺🫶🏼❤️ 🕺🕺🎶 Mama is certainly a fan of when Brody freestyles! The
cutest! #freestyle #musicality #musicman #lyrical #dancecomp #dancestudio #jazz
#bobfosse #littlefosse #bossbabybrody #emote #emotes #patrickswayze.”
Instagram, February 4, 2023. https://www.instagram.com/p/CoP-86IgYxZ/
Stabbert, Richard (@richard_stabbert). “Artist models wrestling (late 19th century).”
Instagram, November 20, 2022. https://www.instagram.com/p/ClMEPUruZQY/
Stabbert, Richard (@richard_stabbert). ““You don't have to say you love me just be
close at hand You don't have to stay forever I will understand believe me, believe
me.”” Instagram, October 28, 2022. https://www.instagram.com/p/CkQt-ZAOqix/
Shamir. “Nuclear.
” From Homo Anxietatem. Kill Rock Stars, 2023.
Tiago, Felipe y and Bachata RoleRotation Official (@felipeytagio_official). “Video of
Two Men Dancing Bachata.” Instagram, February 6, 2023.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CoVkMp5phP6/
Trusov, Pavel (@pavel.kickboxing). “Real brotherhood. That’s my little brother. And
he’s very well.@pavel.kickboxing x @antontrusov_ptt.” Instagram, January 6, 2023.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CnFSuRUBa4b/
Wyeth, Andrew. Christina's World [Oil on canvas]. New York, NY: Museum of Modern
Art, 1948.
Xiu Xiu. “Fabulous Muscles.” From 5 Rue Christine. Kill Rock Stars, 2004.