The Power of Purchase on Stage in NYC

Sharing the Stage

For the past academic year, multi-hyphenate performer and creator Cain Coleman ’09–’13 has been creating new work with Purchase dance students, first for the Purchase Dance Company’s spring concert, and then for a residency program at New York City’s innovative new arts presenter, The Shed.

Shared Generation, the contemporary commission world premiering at the spring concert, enabled students to be an integral part of the creative process. And for New Information, part of The Shed’s Open Call commissioning program for early-career, NYC-based artists, Coleman naturally focused on how to incorporate Purchase people into the work.

Encouraging Endeavor

Described as a “pulsing, vibrant self-exploration through a concert, immersive performance, and dance party,” New Information showcases the many aspects of Coleman’s artistry and promises “an unforgettable evening, featuring original music, live instrumentation, performance art, and captivating visual art.” And it celebrates the release of Coleman’s new EP of the same name.

“Building this evening of dance, music, joy and expression has been a dream and now it feels like just the beginning. I’m looking to encourage self exploration, confidence and kindness through my art,” Coleman says.

Coleman also encourages the newly graduated dancers from the Class of 2024 who perform in New Information including Arianna Carson, Cassandra D’Agostino, Symone Denwood, Thomas Hogan, Jai McKoy, and Sara Richter.

Richter, a dual major in Dance and Anthropology, also serves as Dance Captain and earned a 2024 SUNY Chancellor’s Award while graduating summa cum laude.

Associate Professor of Dance Stephanie Tooman MFA ’00 is the casting director and faculty sponsor. 

“This is an incredible endeavor in many ways and exemplifies our ever expanding professional network sharing and giving back,” says Tooman.

“For our current and recently graduated students, to perform next to Cain at one of the most exciting new contemporary/modern performance spaces in the heart of NYC is an opportunity not only for them to experience performing at the level such a venue demands, but also for them to meet and mingle with artists, producers, curators, reviewers, and audience members, of the elite NYC circles.”

Reflecting last fall on returning to campus as an instructor, Coleman expressed appreciation for teaching—and learning—from the next generation of dancers.

“We’re just vessels; we’re just giving what we have to the students. And in return, allowing them to share what they have with us so that we can then reflect it back in a manner that’s educational and beneficial to us all.”

Collaborative Spirit

Coleman routinely relies on the Purchase network for collaborators. Playing in the band for New Information are drummer David Frazier ’12, MM ’14 (Jazz Studies) and bass player John Feliciano ’10, MM ’12 (Jazz Studies), who’s also the Music Director. And Chazz Giovanni Bruce ’14 (Acting) is the show’s Assistant Director.

Coleman has an alter ego, Odessa Dragon, and they co-taught Special Modern Techniques last fall with Issa (Perez) Dragon ’13, a longtime friend, collaborator, and partner in the award-winning performance art duo The Dragon Sisters.

Separately, Coleman performed professionally companies such as Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Theatre, The Martha Graham Dance Company, and The Metropolitan Opera, and Perez with Gallim Dance and Punchdrunk’s Sleep No More. They began collaborating as nightlife models, then performing as The Dragon Sisters, which evolved into writing and performing their own Hip-Hop music.

Frequently noted for both their art and leadership, The Dragon Sisters earned three NYC GLAM Awards: 2021 Breakthrough Artist of the Year, 2021 and 2022 Best Duo/Group, and a nomination for 2022 Entertainer of the Year.

They’ve been covered by media outlets including WWD, Billboard, Vogue, PAPER Magazine, Elle Magazine, Wonderland, Ladygunn, Good Morning America, Guinness World Records, and The New York Times.

Performances of New Information at The Shed: July 18–20 are sold out, however, an in-person wait list will be available 15 minutes before the show begins.