New Films Focus On History Of Colonnade At Princeton Battlefield

PRINCETON, NJ — Merli V. Guerra is a professional choreographer and history buff. When she moved to Lawrenceville from Boston a few years ago, she was particularly fascinated by the history of the colonnade at Princeton Battlefield State Park.

She had spent hours researching the colonnade and wanted to share her discoveries with others.

An MFA student at Rutgers University, Guerra combined her newly-found knowledge of the colonnade with her passion for dance to create ‘The Time Traveler’s Lens’ — a series of five films people can view on augmented or virtual reality.

“What it is, is a series of five, immersive 360-degree films. And people can access them on their devices – on their computer or a phone or an iPad, "said Guerra. “Each of the five films ties into the history of the colonnade at Princeton Battlefield State Park.”

In the videos, users will find dancers reenacting parts of the colonnade’s history – from the American Revolution to how the colonnade was first created.

Guerra said her videos are not educational in the “traditional sense.”

“You're being immersed into these 360 choreographies, performances that are unfolding around you. One of the pieces is based on the Battle of Princeton, where you’ll see soldiers emerging across the fields all around you in 360.”

Guerra filmed all five videos during different times of the year to give them a sense of authenticity.

“One of the exciting things for me about this project is that it makes the person viewing the work, not just a viewer, but an active participant in the work,” she said.

Nobody gets the same view of the piece. They get a different, unique view based on how they interact with the work, said, Guerra.

For example, someone viewing the 360 films while visiting the Princeton Battlefield State Park will have a different view, as compared to someone watching the film on their laptop at home.

Those at the park can view the film for free. The films will guide them to hidden passwords on the grounds and give users clues on where to find them.

“That was my way of trying to encourage people to actually go to the site,” said Guerra.

Those watching from home have to pay a one-time ticket fee of $10.

“That fee goes directly towards all of our future community outreach projects of the same nature,” said Guerra who runs the Luminarium Dance Company in Princeton.

Guerra has been working on this project for a year and a half. “I had to be cognizant of COVID concerns, especially with my dancers,” she said.

“We found a lot of different, unique ways to both artistically depict the stories of the colonnade, but also work around COVID.”

Of the five films, Guerra’s favorite is the one titled ‘Dwelling.’

The choreographer based it on an old Christmas card from the Maxwell family that lived there in 1949. “And I think the reason that one would be my favorite is because it gives a very personal connection. It’s accessible and reminds people that this was a home,” she said.

The piece also reminds Guerra of her grandmother, who she lost to COVID last year.

“My grandmother was a professional pianist. I stumbled across an old recording of my grandmother playing a piece that was by Beethoven and layered it over the film," she said.

“It felt appropriate and perfect.”

Visitors to the park can view these films using the free YouTube app on their mobile devices. For more details and viewing options, click here.

The Princeton Battlefield State Park is located at 500 Mercer Rd, Princeton.

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