Arpège Lundyn has been selected for COCA’s Choreographic Lab, a six-week program where she choreographs a piece with COCA’s Ballet Eclectica. Her work is mentored by Jamar Roberts, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Houston Thomas, and My’Kal Stromile. This piece will be featured at the New Works Festival on November 7.
About Arpège:
Arpège Lundyn, a dance artist and choreographer from South Central Los Angeles, is a company member with Saint Louis Dance Theatre. A graduate of the Alonzo King LINES Ballet BFA program with a B.A. in psychology, she has performed at the BET Awards, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and in various TV and film projects. She’s honored to choreograph for Ballet Eclectica in the New Works Festival.
Can you tell us about your piece with Ballet Eclectica and the themes you’re exploring?
The work is called “it ends in the beginning,” featuring music from Flying Lotus and Alfonso Peduto. The themes of the piece revolve around control, betrayal, distrust, loss, and anger. Ultimately, it’s about overcoming the obstacles we face in life, finding the strength to end negative cycles and begin anew, all the while, still acknowledging that it doesn’t mean these feelings will never resurface—we just begin new cycles.
While developing this work, you can connect with four mentors who are professional dancers and choreographers. How do your mentors help shape your experience?
Their expertise is truly invaluable. Even though it’s different for everyone, them having their own approach is informing me in creating dynamic work: something that is interesting that keeps you engaged, as well as still keeping the integrity of the artistic vision. They also give me the courage to see what could be, instead of limiting myself to what I think should be.
What do you hope audiences take away from your new work?
What I hope audiences take away is a sense of strength. There are heavier themes in this piece, but the goal is to find strength within the movement. Even when we feel sad, anxious, or tired, there’s always the strength to keep going and grow stronger in the next chapter.
How has the Choreographic Lab and working with COCA’s pre-professional artists helped you achieve any of your professional goals?
In the long term, because of my background and how I came up in dance, I want to give back. There are so many underprivileged communities that don’t believe they can be stars, and my goal is to reach those children through teaching. As adults, we sometimes forget what it felt like to be at that age, and working with Ballet Eclectica helps me better understand where young people are today and gain insight that will shape my future teaching.
