Carolyn Dorfman is Homecoming Queen, at The Bickford Theatre

The Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company at the Bickford. Photo by Marie Pfeifer.
The Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company at the Bickford. Photo by Marie Pfeifer.
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The Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company at the Bickford. Photo by Marie Pfeifer.
The Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company at the Bickford. Photo by Marie Pfeifer.

 

In her youth, Carolyn Dorfman narrowly missed become Homecoming Queen.

On Sunday, she realized that dream–minus the pom-poms–by bringing her Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company home to the Bickford Theatre in Morris Township after a hiatus of more than 30 years.

Her career was launched there at an arts festival called Spectrum.

The Dance Company celebrated with a stunning performance of its newest techno tour de force, Interior Designs.  It included excerpts of a crowd favorite, Love Suite Love, set to the music of Patsy Cline, topped off with Doug Elkins’ eclectic ode to love, Narcolectic Lovers.

“Today’s performance honors Morris Arts and the Morris Museum/Bickford Theatre,” said Tom Werder, executive director of Morris Arts.

The arts are all about relationships, he said, noting that he was artistic director of the Dance Company before assuming leadership of the nonprofit in Morristown.

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Several members of the audience were so moved by the performance that they spontaneously got up and danced.  Bria Bacon, a sophomore majoring in dance at Rutgers University, said she learned to dance from Carolyn Dorfman’s troupe. Tom McMillian, president of the Morris Arts board, was inspired to dance with his wife during the show.

HOMECOMING: Carolyn Dorfman is welcomed back to the Bickford by her friend Tom Werder, executive director of Morris Arts. Photo by Marie Pfeifer
HOMECOMING: Carolyn Dorfman is welcomed back to the Bickford by her friend Tom Werder, executive director of Morris Arts. Photo by Marie Pfeifer

The Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company has performed around the world.  Dorfman is recognized as a creator of evocative dances reflecting her concerns about the human condition, concerns formed early as the child of Holocaust survivors.

Her pieces reflect a spirit and passion for life, people and truth, survival and renewal, and honor her Jewish legacy.

The music and lyrics for Interior Designs were composed by Svjetlana Bukvich.  Bukvich grew up in Sarajevo during the ’80s; the city’s music scene was wild, she said.

“It is exciting to see Interior Designs performed,” Bukvich added.

 

 

1 COMMENT

  1. Carolyn Dorfman Dance is clearly the best modern dance company to ever come out of New Jersey and it is a testimonial to the quality of their work that they have lasted far longer than most dance troupes ever do. This company is one that should be supported whenever they perform in the metropolitan area and anyone who loves dance should run to see them.

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