By Irene Maslowski
Students from kindergarten through grade five at the J. Spencer Smith Elementary School in Tenafly recently had the opportunity to explore the world of modern dance first hand, thanks to the efforts of their Home School Association (HSA) and the acclaimed Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company (CDDC) (www.cddc.info).
Through a one-week residency titled, Speaking Through Dance, the curriculum offered by CDDC to area schools such as Smith Elementary, students are provided with a learning experience comprised of narrated dance performances, master classes, multi-media lectures, and other activities.
On the first day, the entire school experienced a dance performance by the company, narrated by Ms. Dorfman. Since the school wanted the issue of bullying addressed through the art, Ms. Dorfman used some pieces from her personal and historical Legacy Project repertory, that explores issues of the Holocaust, the new immigrant experience and ultimately, the ability for people to rise above their difficulties and to find ways to connect with each other. The rest of the week, Ms. Dorfman and the dancers worked with every class around CDDC’s repertory and the student were able to create their own dances which were shared with their classmates on the final day of the residency. The Speaking Through Dance Program engages and inspires students of all ages by bringing dance to life while meeting the school’s goals and the comprehensive NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards for the Visual and Performing Arts for Grades K-12.
“The CDDC performances were perfect for this age group of students who were able to combine learning with enjoyment while enhancing their aesthetic awareness of the art of dance which is such an important part of the educational process,” comments Judy Chen of the Smith Elementary School HSA, “And allows them to apply their newly acquired knowledge and creative skills to other arenas of life.”
The Speaking Through Dance Program is one of many programs and dance experiences that CDDC brings to dance residencies in schools, colleges and communities offering participants the opportunity to learn new skills and discover how dance and creative expression can help us gain an understanding of our world and also of each other. The program curriculum is comprised of master classes, teacher training workshops, multi-media lectures, and its acclaimed Backstage Pass Performances. Known for its unique ability to engage and inspire students of all ages, the Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company connects dance to life.
About the Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company: The Union-county based company is led by the dynamic vision of Artistic Director Carolyn Dorfman and her creative drive to communicate human experiences, interactions perceptions, and truths. CDDC’s ten members compose a uniquely talented contemporary dance ensemble. The Company is highly acclaimed for its artistic excellence and range as well as its extraordinary ability to communicate to audiences about dance and the creative process. CDDC appears at major theaters, dance festivals, and universities regionally, nationally and internationally.
The company has also been hailed for its “elegance and power” and “technical ability, versatility, and inner fire.” CDDC presents new and repertory works by Ms. Dorfman and nationally known choreographers, regularly commissions original scores, and forges artistic collaborations.

