Pearson Widrig Dance Thaeter

I joined Pearson Widrig Dance Theater (PWDT) in 2004 for the creation of 'Thaw'. Since then I have been part of six new works, I have danced on gravel, climbed many trees, spun on a pottery wheel, thrown water bottles. I have been with Sara and Patrik to many wonderful places such as Bratislava, Slovakia; Les Champs Melisey, France; Ithaca, NY; Troy, NY; Bates Dance Festival, ME; Connecticut College, CT; Atlanta, GA; New Orleans, LA; Los Angeles, CA; Myrtle Beach, SC; New York, NY; Washington, DC; Santiago,Chile; St. Petersburg, Russia; San Juan, Puerto Rico and couple of cities in Mexico.

Drama

Choreographed by Sara Pearson and Patrik Widrig

Drama, a dance of long-legged awkward elegance, arresting in its otherworldly logic, moves along an abstract narrative of continually realigning expectations.


Conceived and Directed by: Sara Pearson and Patrik Widrig
Movement Palette inspired by: Tzveta Kassabova
Created with and Performed by: Tzveta Kassabova, Betty Skeen, and Erin Lehua Brown, with UMD dancers Michelle Chia, Christina Jackson, Alex Odenwald, Natasha Pcholkina, Veronica Rico, Candace Scarborough, Emily Schwarz
Opera Singer: Madeline Miskie
Soundscore by: Lauren Burke
Scenic design conceived by: Sali Treek with Ann Chismar, Erin Glasspatrick, and Ryan Knapp
Costume Design by: Tzveta Kassabova
Lighting Design by: Ariel Benjamin

'Tzveta Kassabova moves as if her limbs are only loosely joined to her body. It’s as though every impetus to fling an arm, hurl her chest forward, or kick out a leg then reverse her torso, sending that leg into a high arabesque, is simply part of the way she moves. Her quirky, somewhat dark Tim Burton-esque movement quality is all her own. It’s no surprise that Sara Pearson and Patrik Widrig used her improvisations as inspiration for Drama, which premiered last month.'
Emily Theys, Dance Magazine
'The linchpin of this work was Tzveta Kassabova, a tall, long-limbed dancer with a steely gaze and wild tangle of curly brown hair. Program notes indicate that her improvisations helped build a foundation for the choreography, and it shows. In her performance, every step looked intuitive, assured and pure. She’s appealing to watch because nothing she does is safe, and yet she is always in control.'
Sarah Halzack, the Washington Post

Oashisu

Choreographed by Sara Pearson and Patrik Widrig

Oashisu, work of continual tectonic shifts, seismic surprises, and deep calm, was inspired by the Japanese concepts of "ma" (a creative space in which the essence of artistic relationships are made tangible) and "kansha" (simultaneous gratitude and appreciation.)


Conceived and Directed by: Sara Pearson and Patrik Widrig
Original Music Composed by: James Nyoraku Schlefer
Choreographed with and Performed by: Graham Brown, Lindsay Gilmour, Tzveta Kassabova, Betty Skeen, Patrik Widrig
Musicians: Masayo Ishigure, Sean Katsuyama, Tigger Benford, James Nyoraku Schlefer
​Costumes: Tzveta Kassabova


Premiered at Tenri Cultural Institute in October 2010


Made possible with the generous support of the New York State Council on the Arts, the American Music Center Live Music for Dance Program, the O’Donnell Green Music and Dance Foundation, the CRS Barn of Ithaca, NY, Jon Wiener, and the Friends of PWDT.

Le Couteau

Choreographed by Sara Pearson and Patrik Widrig

PEARSONWIDRIG DANCETHEATER choreographic residency at Les Champs Mélisey (Burgundy, France), July 20 - August 2, 2025

Conceived and Directed by Sara Pearson and Patrik Widrig
Created with and Performed by Angad Kalsi, Tzveta Kassabova, Sara Pearson, Betty Skeen, Connor Voss, Patrik Widrig
Music by Michael Wall/Darren Morze, Radiohead, Hildegard von Bingen, The Ink Spots, Nino Rota/Carlo Savina, William Bird, Peaches
Text Written and Performed by Sara Pearson
Poem Written by Arthur Rimbaud
Costume Design by Sali Treek

Works performed with Pearson Widrig Dance Theatre

 'Le Couteau' performed at Les Champs Melisey, France, August 2025
 'Mystery of You' performed on the grounds of Meherabode, Harold Lloyd's former Hollywood estate (2024, LA, CA)
 'Persephone Reconsiders Her Fate'  performed at Elefsina, Greece (2023, Greece)  
​‘Curious Invasion / San Juan’ performed at the Castillo San Cristóbal (2019, San Juan, Puerto Rico)
‘Gold’ performed at Dance Place (2017, MD)
‘A Curious Invasion / Zollverein’ performed at Extra Schicht Festival (2017, Essen, Germany)
‘Be Still My Heart’ performed at CSPAC (2012, MD), Kennedy Center (2013, DC), Danspace Project (2015, NYC)
'A Curious Invasion / Conn Coll' performed at Connecticut College (2011, CT)
‘Drama’ performed at CSPAC (2011, MD), Dance Place (2011, DC)
‘Oashisu’ performed at Tenri Cultural Institure (2010, NYC), Connecticut College (2011, CT), Dance Place (2011, DC), CSPAC (2011, MD); 3-city tour for                                                                                                                        Limon International Dance Festival 2018, Mezatlan, Culiacan, Los Mochis,Mexico
'A Curious Invasion / Bratislava' (2009, Bratislava, Slovakia)
‘Paradise Pond’ performed at Bates Dance Festival (2007, ME) 
‘Unmoored- Love Letters from New Orleans’ performed at Kennedy Center (2006, DC), Dance Place (2008, DC), MDE (2009, CSPAC, MD) 
‘Thaw’ performed at the Duke (2005, NYC), Skidmore College (2005, NY), Myrtle Beach (2005, SC), DanceNow at DTW (2005, NYC) 
‘Ordinary Festivals’ performed at City Center (2004, NYC); 3-city tour for Limon International Dance Festival 2018, Mezatlan, Culiacan, Los Mochis,Mexico 2018