BRKFST
(MN)
2026
- Lisa “MonaLisa” Berman and Joseph “MN Joe” Tran are St. Paul-based choreographers and Co-Founders / Co-Artistic Directors of BRKFST Dance Company. BRKFST combines breaking and non-codified dance vernacular to produce works that are emotionally resonant and physically rigorous. As collaborators, they have premiered original works at local venues including the Walker Art Center, Southern Theater, and Orchestra Hall with the Minnesota Orchestra; nationally and internationally with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Des Moines Symphony, Bates College (ME), John Michael Kohler Arts Center (WI), Dance2Connect Festival (Ireland) and Vancouver International Dance Festival (Canada). Together, they have set repertoire at the University of MN - Twin Cities, Carleton College, St. Olaf College, Winona State University, Bates College, and Dance2Connect Festival.
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Berman is a respected breaker with a choreographic approach grounded in collaboration, storytelling and experimentation. She is the recipient of the 2016 McKnight Dancer Fellowship, 2008 Jerome Travel Grant and multiple Minnesota grants. She has performed as a solo artist in productions touring to Art Basel – Miami, Corcoran Gallery in Washington DC, Salon 94 in New York, NY, Amsterdam Museum in the Netherlands and D2C Festival in Ireland.
Trần is a world-renowned breaker and former member of Knuckleheads Cali—a breaking crew respected for their avant-garde style of movement. He is the recipient of the 2023-2025 Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship and 2019 McKnight Dancer Fellowship. He is known for his signature moves which have earned him multiple first-place victories in breaking competitions across the U.S., Europe, and South America.
glass jar (working title)
Partnership Project | McKnight Artist Fellow: November 1-9, 2026
Collaborator in Residence: Renée Copeland [Composer]
Joseph “MN Joe” Tran and Lisa “MonaLisa” Berman come to MANCC for the first time to develop a highly physical and emotionally resonant evening-length duet. Blending breaking, improvisation, and partnering, the work explores how connections to oneself, the body, and relationships evolve during periods of trauma—drawing directly from Lisa’s experience as a two-time cancer survivor and Joe’s support throughout her journey. While in residency, they will focus on movement generation and collaborate with Renée Copeland on an original sound score.
Lisa Berman and Joe Tran are recipients of the 2026 McKnight Choreography Fellowship and their MANCC residency is supported by funds from the McKnight Choreography Fellowship program, administered by Springboard for the Arts and funded by the McKnight Foundation.
