Same but Different is a collaboration between Christal Brown and Lida Winfield, exploring their similarities and differences in a cultural commentary on race, age, and gender. 42 years young and recently orphaned, Lida grew up in the North, Christal grew up in the South, both of them grew up inhabiting small towns. Lida is white, Christal is black. As children, Christal was considered a genius and Lida was labeled dumb. At this point in their lives, Lida and Christal have both lived the rigors of being artists, professors, educators, and survivors of life.
Christal Brown is the Founder of INSPIRIT and Project:BECOMING, the creator of the Liquid Strength training module for dance, an Associate Professor of Dance at Middlebury College and the CVO of Steps and Stages Coaching, LLC. Brown received a BFA in Dance and a minor in Business from UNCG and her MFA in New Media Art and Technology from LIU. Brown is a mover and a warrior of change and transformation. Brown combines her athleticism, creativity, love for people, and passion for teaching to create works that redefine the art of dance, the creation of identity and structures of power. https://christalbrown.com/
Lida Winfield is an innovative and accomplished dancer, choreographer, spoken word artist and educator, who has created original work merging storytelling, dance and visual art. As an artist, educator and keynote presenter, she has performed and taught nationally and internationally in traditional and non-traditional environments. Lida’s artistic practice is inextricably linked to her role as an educator and her pedagogy is rooted in inclusion, access, and the recognition that our brains and bodies work differently and this difference is a valuable asset. www.lidawinfield.com
Collaborators:
Composers: Philippe Bronchtein and Farai Malianga
Director of photography: Sam Kann
Assistant camera: Matteo Moretti
Dramaturg: Michole Biancosino
Lighting designer: Jennifer Ponder
Costume design: Carol Wood
This work is made possible through the generous support of: The Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, The National Performance Network, Middlebury Performing Arts Series, and Same But Different Process Pass Holders
“It feels like a love song to humanity.
Grounded, practical, tender and tough, I loved it.
Thank you for making it.”
– Elizabeth Billings
