New Jersey's Finest Dance Companies Unite at Centenary Stage's 2013 Dance Festival, Now thru 4/27

With the several theatrical and musical talents that Centenary Stage Company brings to Hackettstown, they still like to leave some room to dance. For a full week in April, audiences can enjoy performances by accomplished professional dance companies that come to the Lackland Center from all over New Jersey. CSC will be having its annual Dance Week, today, April 21st, through the 27th with performances by Umoja Dance Company, Moe-Tion Dance Theatre, Nimbus Dance Works, and The Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company.

Established in 1993 by artistic director, Karen L. Love, the multi-cultural Umoja Dance Company is a fusion of contemporary modern and West African dance that reflects the evolution of movement and spirit in the African-Caribbean traditions, classical Indian dance, capoeira and the fundamentals of yoga practice to develop a modern dance idiom that joins all cultures. Umoja will perform is today, April 21st at 4:30 pm.

Unique and experimental, Moe-Tion Dance Theatre returns to the Centenary Stage on Thursday, April 25th at 7:30 pm in the Sitnik Theater. Moe-Tion is a contemporary modern dance company dedicated to experimenting and creating new forms of expression. Known for their diverse repertory and site-specific work, Moe-Tion Dance Theatre introduces its own style of dance to audiences. Also performing as part of the festival will be the young Moe-Tion Dance Theater, established in 2007 under the artistic direction of Maureen Glennon. Moe-Tion has performed at numerous festivals, showcases and venues throughout the tri-state area.

Nimbus Dance Works, Jersey City's premiere dance company, will be performing on Friday, April 26th at 8:00 pm. Nimbus focuses its work on the intersection between high-level dance and innovative ways of involving communities and audiences. Nimbus presents dance performances and programs to diverse audiences locally and on tour. Called "Sophisticated and engaging" by the Star-Ledger and "One of the country's most exciting young dance ensembles" by the Bar Harbor Times, Nimbus will present an evening of exhilarating and breathtaking dance on. The evening includes "Memo" one of the company's signature works which interweaves an all-ages cast of performers from the local community to perform with Nimbus' world class professional dancers.

The Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company will once again be returning to CSC's Dance Week on Saturday, April 27th at 8 pm. Acclaimed for its artistic excellence and range as well as its elegance and technical ability, The Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company uses movement to engage audience members in an emotional experience. Described by critics as "ingenious" (The Star-Ledger) and "emotionally resonant" (The New York Times), presents new and repertory works by Ms. Dorfman and regularly commissions original scores and artistic collaborations. Critic Sheila Abrams stated that Dorfman's work "frequently stands out for its cerebral underpinnings," and went on to say that Dorfman's artistry is " a reason for Garden State dance aficionados to stand up and cheer." (Observer Tribune).

Performances are on Sunday, April 21st at 4:30 pm for Umoja Dance Company, Thursday, April 25th at 7:30 pm for Moe-Tion Dance Theatre, Friday, April 26th at 8 pm for Nimbus Dance Works, and Saturday, April 27th at 8 pm for The Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company. Tickets for Centenary Stage Company's Dance Week range from $12.50 to $17.50 in advance and $17.50 to 22.50 at the door, with discounts for seniors and children under 12. There is also a Dance Fest Flex Pass to see all four performances for $40.00 a person. They may be purchased online at www.centenarystageco.org or by calling the Centenary Stage Company box office at 908-979-0900. The box office is also open for ticket sales from weekdays 1:00-5:00 p.m. and 2 hours before each performance in the Lackland Center at 715 Grand Avenue in Hackettstown.

The Centenary Stage Company is a not-for-profit professional Equity theatre in residence at Centenary College dedicated to serving as a cultural resource for audiences of the Skylands Region, with professional music, theatre and dance events and arts education programs throughout the year.

Pictured (photos, top to bottom): Umoja Dance Company; MOE-TION Dance, photo by Maureen Glennon; Nimbus Dance Works, Dancers Michelle de Fremery & Jean Paul Jr., photo credit PeiJu Chien-Pott; Carolyn Forman Dance Company, full company, photo by Paula Lobo.

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