Irena Yin (BFA '26) with fellow BFA students and Jennifer Lott in London | Photo courtesy of Yin

Irena Yin (BFA ‘26) reflects on her experience as a project co-leader at Trinity Laban’s CoLab 2025 in London.

By Irena Yin (BFA ’26)

Last month, I had the privilege of traveling to London for CoLab 2025 at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. In a week-long process of interdisciplinary collaboration, Janae Holster (BFA’ 25) and I delved into the CoLab 2025 theme of Time alongside our project co-leaders from Trinity Laban, Ana Geoghegan and Anna Ferrarese.

Finding Common Ground

With seven musicians and seven dancers in the studio, establishing a shared language was crucial. We used the first two days to find synergy as a group: as dancers, musicians, and individuals, each carrying a rich tapestry of experiences. We began with improvisational exercises where the dancers and musicians responded to sound and movement, respectively. Sometimes, one pair went at a time. In other cases, multiple pairs took the floor simultaneously to reveal how different instruments interacted.

Nostalgia in a Liminal State

Our project, Nostalgia in a Liminal State, invited conversations about how we viewed nostalgia and liminality. The discussion began with what felt easiest to access, linking nostalgia to fond childhood memories. By the end of the discussion, the group linked nostalgia and liminality to uncertainty, longing, and distortion. We carried these complex emotions in our artistic intent for the project.

Element of Play

CoLab is about the process, not the product. Janae and I emphasized the importance of play as the group explored movement and music tasks, despite the underlying pressure of sharing with an audience on the final day. My favorite activity was when we split into four groups and embarked on a journey to seek inspiration from the spaces we found liminal. My group took a ten-minute walk to the Greenwich Foot Tunnel, where we explored the space with music and dance. Following the activity, each group shared their findings. The question then became: “How can we bring the liminality of the spaces we explored into a studio setting?”

Concluding Thoughts

Although I was always aware of the presence of music as a dancer, there has not been an experience that is as literal as physically sharing a space with seven musicians for five days. CoLab has left me with a better understanding of the symbiotic relationship between music and movement. I also gained valuable insights on how to approach interdisciplinary collaboration.

Throughout the week, the thought that one day, I would feel nostalgic for this exact experience lingered in my mind. As the group waved our goodbyes, I felt a soft brush of nostalgia. I am grateful for the research, play, and connections made during CoLab 2025.