“Cancer, Choreographed” Debuts in the U.S.

Created by Romanian choreographer Cosmin Manolescu and based on an original text by Cătălina Florescu, “Cancer, Choreographed” is an emotional journey about life, death, and the redemptive power of the arts, partly inspired by personal struggles to navigate this complex illness. 

Conceived as a participatory dance experience and performed by Cosmin Manolescu and Cristina Lilienfeld, the show mirrors the real-life roller-coaster of emotions the cancer patients go through and offers a tribute to those who lost their lives to this pervasive disease. The performance will take place in the presence of Michael Singer, a survivor who, over the years, has vigorously campaigned on behalf of fellow breast cancer patients.

The performance, featuring two original soundtracks by Sabina Ulubeanu, visual projections by Cinty Ionescu, and live DJ-ing by Alexandros Raptis, will have its international premiere at Jersey City Theater Center on April 26th followed by a New York premiere at the Romanian Cultural Institute, within the Romanian American Studio Theater program, on April 28th.

The production is dedicated to Rodica Dan, Gabriela Tudor, and Dean Marijo Russell-O’Grady and marks the International Dance Day, celebrated worldwide on April 29th.

Cancer, Choreographed

Based on the text with the same title written by Cătălina Florescu (Staging Breast Cancer Trilogy)

Concept and choreography: Cosmin Manolescu

Dancers: Cosmin Manolescu, Cristina Lilienfeld

Special guest: Michael Singer, male breast cancer survivor

Original music: Sabina Ulubeanu

Musicians: Bogdan Popa (cello), Mihai Pintenaru (clarinet)

Video design: Cinty Ionescu

Light design and live DJ: Alexandros Raptis

Duration: approx. 100 minutes

A Serial Paradise production by Gabriela Tudor Foundation

Co-produced with the support of the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York and ARCUB – Cultural Centre of the Municipality of Bucharest (Romania)

Project co-funded by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund of Romania

Co-presented in the United States by the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York and the Jersey City Theater Center

About the artists:

Catalina Florina Florescu holds a PhD in Comparative Literature/Medical Humanities from Pace University. She teaches undergraduate courses at Pace University, and graduate courses at Stevens Institute. She is a published author and a working mother of a wonderful teen born on International Jazz Day. More here: http://www.catalinaflorescu.com/

Cristina Lilienfeld studied choreography and psychology, constantly looking for the point where the two disciplines meet. In recent years, she has collaborated with numerous choreographers and dancers but also with visual artists and musicians and has been part of several interdisciplinary artistic groups. Shows that she choreographed – like "Lay(ers)", "Not All Are Heroes", "Deeds of Bravery", "Moving Fields", "Eighty Five Percent Of What You Remember", "See You Soon" – or in which she dances – like "Group Choreography" by Mihaela Alexandra Dancs, "In the Body" (chamber opera) by Diana Rotaru on a libretto by Ciprian Măceșaru, "Dancer In The Dark" directed by Levente Kocsardi, "A Truth, A Lie And A List Of Possibilities" by Andreea Novac, "Alienation or the Desire for Intimacy" by Benno Voorham to name just a few – are still presented in Romania and abroad. In 2016, she was part of the Dance Roads program through which she presented "Lay(ers)" in five European countries. She has collaborated with choreographers Cosmin Manolescu, Alexandra Bălășoiu, Valentina de Piante, Mihaela Alexandra Dancs, Mădălina Dan, Andreea Novac, Benno Voorham, Smaranda Găbudeanu, Virginia Negru; with visual artists Dilmana Yordanova, Mihaela Kavdanska, Alina Usurelu; with musicians Diana Rotaru, Irinel Anghel, Anca Elena KamerArt, LeVant, the Fierbințeanu Band; with writers Răzvan Țupa and Adela Dragomir; as well as with many actors and directors. From 2015 to 2020, she was part of the PETEC Association, supporting various interdisciplinary productions. In 2020, she became a founding member of AREAL | space for choreographic development, where she currently works.

Cosmin Manolescu is a choreographer, curator, cultural entrepreneur and experience designer. He is the Executive Director of The Gabriela Tudor Foundation and, since 2020, the initiator, co-founding member and co-director of the AREAL | collective space for choreographic development. Since 1997, he has played an important role in the development of contemporary dance in Romania and in the creation of the Bucharest National Dance Center (2004). He made his debut as a choreographer in 1994 within the Marginalii Group. His shows and projects have been successfully presented in Bucharest, New York, Paris, Lyon, Rome, Dublin, Porto, Amsterdam, Beirut, Riga, Seattle, and Lisbon. His transatlantic connections are wide. In 2002, as a CEC ArtsLink scholarship holder, he visited Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Diego, San Francisco and New York with the aim to develop American-Romanian collaborative projects. Upon returning to Romania, in 2003, he organized the second edition of the BucurESTI.VEST International Festival, which focused on North American dance and featured American choreographers Allyson Green, Amanda Loulaki, Homer Avilla along with John Jasperse Company of New York. In 2005, he collaborated with choreographer Allyson Green and visual artist Peter Terezakis to create the performative installation "Hearts Beats Light" in Bucharest and Constanța on the shores of the Black Sea. Between 2000-2017, he was a member of the Suitcase Fund/Dance Theater Workshop network and later of the Global Practice Sharing/Movements Research network and carried out a program of residencies and scholarships for Romanian and American artists and cultural managers as well as a series of shows in New York, San Diego, Seattle, and Portland. In April 2022, he offered a residency at AREAL to the New York choreographer Ursula Eagly and in August 2022 he participated in the residency IIAC – International Interdisciplinary Artists Consortium, organized by Peter Sciscioli in New York and Tremper. Manolescu deeply believes that contemporary dance is an art form that can positively change people's lives, regardless of age, identity or professional background. Since 2014, he has begun to develop his own method – called “the emotional body”-, which is a holistic approach to the body that includes touch, yoga exercises, and subtle sensory movements that he has used in his performances and has taught at home and abroad. Since 2017, he has organized annual emotional trips and dance retreats in India, Japan, Portugal and Greece. He is currently interested in experimental projects that connect the body with the city, landscape, and nature.