Artistic Direction and Concept: Davalois Fearon 
Choreography: Davalois Fearon
Poetry: Patricia Smith

Princeton University's 2025 Atelier Course: Blood Dazzler: Collaboration and Catastrophe
Work-in-progress showing: April 25th 2025, Hearst Dance Theater
Dancers: 
Photo: 

---

Blood Dazzler is currently a multidisciplinary work-in-progress developed by Princeton students enrolled in the Spring Atelier 2025 course Blood Dazzler: Collaboration and Catastrophe.
​
Co-taught by award-winning artists Patricia Smith, Davalois Fearon, and Paloma McGregor, the course has guided students through a collaborative creative process grounded in Smith’s acclaimed poetry collection Blood Dazzler, which chronicles the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and its enduring aftermath. Through intensive research—including interviews, documentary viewings, readings, and written reflections—students have created original material that explores themes of loss, resilience, memory, and hope.
​
Presented on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, this performance honors the lives impacted by the storm and the enduring spirit of New Orleans. The April 25 showing represents an early stage of the work’s development and will serve as a catalyst for continued artistic exploration toward a fully realized production in the fall.