Spotlight

We are shining a light on the extensive inquiry, activity, dialogue, and debate that takes place in the performing arts, both on the Northeastern University campus in Oakland and around the world.

You've Heard Experimental Sounds From Mills College (Even If You Don't Realize It)
An article by Bay Curious considering the extensive reflections of experimental music from Mills College in popular music. Presented by KQED.

A Perspective: A Space to Dance
A perspective by alumni and adjunct faculty member Garth Grimball '13 considers the demands of the new world order. Presented by KQED.

Project Pulse: A Dance Research Experience
An article by alumna Casey Thorne '18 investigating the clinical art and science of pulsology through dance.

Prototypes II — Fred Frith and Sudhu Tewari
A video with retired Professor Fred Frith and current Lisser Workshop Technician Sudhu Tewari demonstrating a variety of built instruments. Presented by the Center for New Music.

Mills Music Now - Tomeka Reid with Selina Tripp and Adam Vida
An online concert broadcast on September 19, 2020. Presented by the Mills College Music Department and the Center for Contemporary Music.

Contemporary Performance Ensemble Concert Spring 2020.
A ZOOM Concert broadcast on May 6, 2020, Ensemble directed by Steed Cowart.

2020: A Few Questions, a radio play.
Documentary play written and produced by the Spring 2020 Theater Production class, directed by Victor Talmadge. Released on June 28, 2020.

X Sound Fesival 2020.
Graduating Mills music majors present original compositions and sound art, under the direction of Zeena Parkins. 

Music Improvisation Ensemble II Concert Spring 2020.
Original Sound: Experiments with Virtual Improvisation on ZOOM. Concert broadcast on May 2, 2020. Class taught by Zeena Parkins.

From the Start. From the Finish. by Alex Tiscareno.
Senior Thesis dance created for the screen during online semester, May 2020.

White Corners by Vu Mbambo.
MFA Thesis screendance, May 2020. 

Adv. Audio Recording Culminating Projects Spring 2020.
A collection of music and images created remotely by students at Mills College Center for Contemporary Music. Class taught by Christopher Davidson. 

Seminar in Computer Music Culminating Projects Spring 2020.
Digital music from the deepest parts of the web made with black market externals and sounds conjured from the net. Class taught by Kristin Glavin.

Signal Flow Festival 2020.
Highlights from the March 2020 festival showcasing new works in music and sound art by graduating master’s degree candidates from Mills' Music program.

Mills Dance Alumna Shirley Mordine is Feted by the Chicago Tribune.
“Any semblance of modern dance in this city is because of Shirley Mordine,” declares the Tribune in a compelling retrospective on her storied career.

Mills is Awarded Mellon Foundation Grant for Humanities Project.
With Mellon Foundation award, Mills students and faculty will launch a multi-year project to connect with local and national performing artists.

Theater Professor Victor Talmadge Appears in New CalShakes Production.
Tony Kushner’s contemporary adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s The Good Person of Szechwan explores the deep conflict between goodness and survival.

New Yorker Hails Alumna Holly Herndon’s AI Collaboration Album.
“Herndon’s desire to see technology as neither the best thing ever nor the worst marks her as unusual,” says the magazine about her new album, PROTO.

Alumnus Brian Baumbusch Debuts New Commission at Other Minds.
San Francisco’s famous experimental music festival commissioned Baumbusch to create an evening-long multimedia piece, The Pressure, for Other Minds 24.

Choreographer Robert Moses Joins the Mills Dance & Theater Department.
Internationally recognized choreographer, dancer, and dance company founder Robert Moses joins Mills this fall as a distinguished visiting professor.

Lisser Hall Reopens Following an Extensive Renovation.
Learn about the team effort behind the successful renovation and revitalization of historic Lisser Hall into a state-of-the-art performance venue.

Hear the Future of Music at Signal Flow.
This annual four-day festival features electronic, experimental, and visionary new music by graduating master’s degree candidates at Mills College.

Contact Us

Mills Performing Arts
5000 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94613
P: 510.430.2191
E: millsperformingarts@northeastern.edu