By irene maslowski
For thirty years, the Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company (www.cddc.info) has entertained, educated and inspired countless audiences. The ten-member company, led by founder and artistic director Carolyn Dorfman, whose creative drive is focused on communicating human experiences, interactions, perceptions and truths, compose a uniquely talented contemporary dance ensemble, highly acclaimed for artistic excellence and range and extraordinary ability to communicate to audiences about dance and the creative process.
The Company, which has been described as “ingenious” by The Star-Ledger and “emotionally resonant” by The New York Times, has presented the works of Carolyn Dorfman, as well as other nationally known choreographers over the past three decades. With bold athleticism, dramatic nuance, and musical range, CDDC’s high-energy and technically demanding repertory uses movement as metaphor to take audiences on intellectual and emotional journey, appearing at major theaters, dance festivals, and universities regionally, nationally and internationally, and is lauded for its artistry and exceptional arts education and community programming.
A gala celebration, in recognition of the Company’s milestone, will be held on Saturday, April 13, at Kean University and will be highlighted by the world premiere of Ms. Dorfman’s new work, Interior Designs, a collaboration between Dorfman and other accomplished women artists, including the award-winning Sarajevo-born composer, Svjetlana Bukvich; video designer, Kate Freer; lighting designer, Kate Ashton; and costume designer, Anna-Alisa Belous. Together, they create an immersive environment that reveals the internal and external worlds of both performer and spectator in which the entire theater becomes the stage. The performance will feature all CDDC dancers, a newly commissioned score, original video projections and video mapping and integrated lighting and costume designs.
The Gala will take place on Saturday, April 13, at Kean University’s Wilkins Theater, with a light dinner from 6:00–8:00 p.m., followed by the world premiere of Interior Designs and performances of Ms. Dorfman’s, My Father’s Solo, and Portrait. Guest artist and dance comedienne, choreographer, Claire Porter will perform in honor of CDDC and its honorees. A post-performance dessert reception will culminate the evening’s celebration.
In addition to the Gala and performance, six individuals will be honored and will receive awards that evening in recognition for their contributions to the Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company:
• Encore Award: The Honorable Thomas H. Kean, Governor, State of New Jersey, 1982-1990 and Chairman, 911 Commission, 2002-2005.
• Keystone Award: Don Jay Smith, of LKS Associates, Inc., a marketing and public relations professional, instrumental in launching the New Jersey Hall of Fame, Discover Jersey Arts, and co-founder of The Community Theatre of Morristown.
• Lifeline Awards: Presented to Robin Aubrey, Wendee Rogerson, Jon Zimmerman, and Jacqueline Dumas Albert, dancers of the Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company who created and performed with CDDC for ten years or longer.
On Sunday, April 14 at 4:00 p.m. CDDC will present Interior Designs and the premiere of dancer, Mica Bernas’, Marie, Maria in addition to other repertory. This is a family friendly event, also held at Wilkins Theater, Kean University, where the audience will be treated to an interactive afternoon with Ms. Dorfman and the dancers.
For tickets and info: 908-687-8855 or visit www.cddc.info.
About the Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company:
Led by the dynamic vision of Artistic Director, Carolyn Dorfman, the Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company (CDDC) is a Union, NJ-based dance company now celebrating its 30th Season. The Company, described as “ingenious” (Star-Ledger) and “emotionally resonant” (New York Times) presents the works of Carolyn Dorfman and nationally known choreographers.
With bold athleticism, dramatic nuance, and musical range, CDDC’s high-energy and technically demanding repertory uses movement as metaphor to take audiences on intellectual and emotional journeys. Hailed, too, as a consummate storyteller, Dorfman, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, has also created a celebrated body of work that honors her Jewish legacy- its trials and triumphs, its treasured uniqueness and, most importantly, its universal connections.
The company’s ten dancers (“with a four octave range” (Doug Elkins)) compose a uniquely talented contemporary dance ensemble, 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, universities and schools worldwide, and is lauded for its artistry and exceptional arts education and community programming.

