WAVES is one of the dances to be performed by Carolyn Dorfman Dance on October 20th. Photo by Whitney Brown.

(LIVINGSTON, NJ) -- The Heidi Gallery at JSDD, located at 310 Eisenhower Parkway in Livingston, will hold its third annual juried group exhibition, The WAE Open, from Thursday, October 10 through Sunday, December 8, 2024. The exhibition will feature 62 diverse works from 42 talented New Jersey artists. Admission is free and the gallery will be open from 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.

On Sunday, October 20 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, Carolyn Dorfman Dance will perform for free, but participants must register in advance by calling 973-272-7148 or emailing [email protected]. Registration is required because space is limited!

Led by Artistic Director Carolyn Dorfman, the company will explore the human experience through dance, addressing themes of community, connection, and cultural narratives, drawing on her Jewish heritage. One of the dances to be performed is “WAVES,” praised by critic Robert Johnson for its “ingenious ensemble sections.” It will include students from a workshop that the company will conduct with JSDD earlier in the week.  Other dances include excerpts from “The Legacy Project,” “Keystone,” “Living Room Music,” and “Love Suite Love.”

The WAE Center is a holistic, creative and expressive arts learning center for people wot disabilities. It operates as a program of the Jewish Service for the Developmentally Disabled of MetroWest, Inc. (JSDD), a multi-purpose agency dedicated to providing an integrated program of community education, advocacy and services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. 

The opportunity to experience the internationally known dance company for free is unusual so they encourage you to register right away either through email ([email protected]) or by phone (973-272-7148). 

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.