"TRY" ~a dance immersive show~

Bridging Generations, Cultures, and Stories.
Dance, Feel, Connect.

May 30 @ 7:30pm
May 31 @ 1pm
May 31 @ 7:30pm

“TRY”, an immersive dance-theatre experience written by Federica Borlenghi and choreographed by sarAika, as part of their Artist-in-Residence program at The Performance Project at University Settlement.

Blurring the lines between audience and performer, “TRY” invites viewers to not just witness, but to dance, feel, and connect. Set within an intimate, participatory environment, the performance draws from the real-life experiences of immigrant senior women from University Settlement’s Senior Center. Through shared moments of dance, dominos, and storytelling, their powerful journeys take center stage.

In a unique twist, audience members will learn the MELTZ—a playful fusion of the waltz with a contemporary merengue spin—taught live by the artists. This interactive element becomes a living metaphor for cultural hybridity and the joy of shared movement.

Over several months since the Fall 2024, sarAika and Federica spent meaningful time with the senior community—dancing together, hearing stories of migration, and discovering how everyday rituals can bridge generations and cultures. These encounters became the foundation for a deeply personal and evocative work.

“TRY” transforms performance into a shared space of memory, resistance, and celebration— where each participant becomes part of a living archive of dance, culture, and resilience.

####

The Performance Project at University Settlement is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.