Carolyn Dorfman Dance; photo by Whitney Brown

(MAPLEWOOD, NJ) -- An evening benefiting the arts education and community impact of Carolyn Dorfman Dance will be held on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at the Maplewood Country Club. The event, billed as REACH "an evening of fundraising and recognition," will feature performances by the CDD dancers and "Spotlight Friendz" plus will honor longtime board member and company supporter Rabbi Stuart Gershon.

Attendees will be treated to spectacular evening with an open bar, buffet dinner, performances and awards, all emceed by Broadway performer, Pilates instructor, author, and podcast host Allisa Alter. The company will perform excerpts from repertory favorites “Just a Gigolo,” “Battle of the Beats,” “Kaffeeclatch,” and “Portrait.”

Come and support their Spotlight Friendz as they join the dancers of Carolyn Dorfman Dance: Livingston resident Joan Berkowitz, Essex Fells resident Joan Chiang, Mountain Lakes resident Rebecca Gold, Newark resident Shadae McDaniel, Bedminster resident Brian Haggerty, Short Hills resident Dr. Cliff Schob, Green Village residents Jeff Kronthal and Dr. Greg Gallick, Montclair resident DJ Prince Hakim, and the Montclair-based Sharon Miller’s Academy of the Arts (Sara Calhau, Cassidy Murray, Isabel Pierre, Sophia Sorge, and Danica Stout).

“We are thrilled to present this event which is a little different from galas we have had in recent years. We will be reaching to connect and build community as everyone supports Carolyn Dorfman Dance,” said artistic director, Carolyn Dorfman. “With MOVE HUMAN as our lead, our company has been bringing dance to K-12 schools, colleges/universities, community organizations, senior citizens and organizations that work with disabled people and audiences in and outside of New Jersey for more than 40 years. We hope that everyone can come and support our work and cheer for a DJ to the stars, the brilliant student performers as they bring new life to a work celebrating women, and of course, support our wonderful Spotlight Friendz in performance!”

Sponsorships and Tickets, including donations to your favorite Spotlight Friendz, are available here.

This fun-filled evening begins at 6:30pm at the Maplewood Country Club, 28 Baker Street in Maplewood, New Jersey. The evening begins with cocktails and a buffet dinner, followed by a stirring dance performance featuring our Spotlight Friendz and the presentation of the Encore Award.

JUST A GIGOLO - An audience favorite from Dorfman’s blockbuster PRIMA! Look for the gigolo among you! Maybe it’s someone you know…give them your support! Spotlight Friendz: Gregory Gallick, Brian Haggerty, Jeffrey Kronthal, and Clifford Schob.

MASTER OF THE BEATS - What happens when you pair an innovative DJ and a dancer extraordinaire? A battle of the beats with just a bit of WAVES. Drumroll and dollars please! Spotlight Friend: DJ Prince Hakim

KAFFEEKLATCH (Coffee Gossip) - Old world meets new in Dorfman’s American Dream. Following delicious gossip, our dueling divas enhance this CDD classic. Fill their cups! Spotlight Friendz: Joan Berkowitz, Joan Chiang, Rebecca A. Gold, and Shadae McDaniel.

PORTRAIT - Picture the power of the next generation. Five stunning student artists bring to life a classic work celebrating all women. Spotlight Friendz: Sharron Miller Academy of the Performing Arts Dancers

Carolyn Dorfman Dance moves people to connect to our common humanness to build understanding and face barriers together through powerfully expressive contemporary dance. Through the powerful choreography of founding Artistic Director Carolyn Dorfman and diverse artistic collaborators, CDD celebrates the trials and triumphs of the human story. Our long history is a journey of growth, change, and innovation through storytelling and employment of multiethnic dancers skilled in reflecting our common social connections. Our one-of-a-kind dance experiences open dialogue, and create bridges between artist, audience, and each other. The highly acclaimed ensemble is known for emotional resonance and artistic excellence in both performance and its interaction with audiences, students and community. Carolyn Dorfman Dance appears at major theaters, dance festivals, universities, schools, museums and galleries regionally, nationally and internationally.