Looking Back, Dancing Forward
The Vanaver Caravan celebrates their 50th Anniversary this year with a series of events that highlight the best aspects of their impactful work; both past and present. Join founders, Livia and Bill Vanaver, and the Caravan community as they reflect on their legacy and imagine a bright future – handing the leadership torch to the next generation and building a home dance center in the Hudson Valley. . . READ ON.
Looking Back, Dancing Forward:
The Vanaver Caravan Celebrates 50 Years
The Vanaver Caravan celebrates their 50th Anniversary this year with a series of events that highlight the best aspects of their impactful work; both past and present. Join founders, Livia and Bill Vanaver, and the Caravan community as they reflect on their legacy and imagine a bright future – handing the leadership torch to the next generation and building a home dance center in the Hudson Valley.
50th Anniversary Year Events & Workshops
Thank you to everyone who attended our 50th Anniversary Reunion Gala at the Ashokan Center on October 22nd, 2022. It was a beautiful event and we were so happy you joined us. Share your Caravan Tale here.
Images from the 50th Anniversary Gala
Snapshot Gallery of meaningful moments
Volunteer Opportunities
Become A Caravan Community Ambassador!
To celebrate The Vanaver Caravan's 50th Birthday, we also celebrate YOUR birthday We are asking members of our community (of any age!) to get involved by hosting a birthday fundraiser on Facebook.
Volunteer Packet
2022 Dance Institute Dates
The Vanaver Caravan offers a variety of dance classes and special workshops for children, teens, and adults throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley. Students who train in our institute learn styles taught by world-renowned dancers, in a wholesome atmosphere.
SpringDance - March 15 - May 25
SpringDance classes Tues & Wednesdays, ages 4-18
Summer Programs - July 11 - Aug 5
CaravanKids (ages 4-8) & SummerDance (ages 9-18) Week-long Workshops
FallDance Classes - Sept 13 - December 15
FallDance classes Tues & Wednesdays, ages 4-18
Moving Forward
Moving Forward was co-created to build community, uplift our shared audiences, and to be made accessible though free public performances. The impetus for the project was to co-create a new dance piece that would express both dance companies' desire to unite and address multi-racial communities, including those of our own dance companies.
Moving Forward was co-created to build community, uplift our shared audiences, and to be made accessible though free public performances. The impetus for the project was to co-create a new dance piece that would express both dance companies' desire to unite and address multi-racial communities, including those of our own dance companies. Moving Forward builds artistic capacity through the development and performance of this new collaborative work added to our repertoire - as well as audience sharing between two local dance companies.
MOVING FORWARD DATES:
Moving Forward will be performed at our upcoming participation in the annual Dance Flurry in Saratoga Springs, (postponed due to COVID, date TBA, 2022). Click here: Visit FlurryFestival.org to learn more and purchase tickets
Stay tuned in 2022: Moving Forward will be performed in urban, suburban, and rural spaces in the coming season, for all to see!
This project is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor’s office and the New York State Legislature and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson.
In Loving Memory
The Vanaver Caravan mourns the loss of two lifelong friends: Gerow Smiley and Pat Smiley Guralnik. Word from Livia: …
In Loving Memory
The Vanaver Caravan mourns the loss of two lifelong friends: Pat Smiley Guralnik and Gerow Smiley.
Words from Livia:
Pat was on our Board of Advisors for many years. She and her husband, Robert Guralnik started the Festival of Arts at Mohonk, which her daughter, Maria, continues to curate and host and where The Vanaver Caravan performs each summer. Pat's brother, Gerow Smiley, who was on our Board of Directors in the 80’s passed away just last week at age 99.
Gerow Smiley Obituary
Patricial Smiley Guralnik Obituary:
Patricia Smiley Guralnik was born on August 29, 1936 in a family home at Lake Mohonk in New Paltz, the last child of Rachel Orcutt and Francis Smiley. As a child, the hotel grounds were Pat’s playground, including climbing on the roof for fun and running up the famed “Labyrinth” trail to Skytop, her cocker spaniel in tow. Her playmates were children of employees and guests, though she spent much time alone with her imagination and books.
She attended Westtown Friends School for high school, where she once adventured to Manhattan to see a show without permission and had to sign a book every hour when she returned. Patricia received a teaching degree from Plattsburg State Teachers College and had a short career as a teacher for gifted children. She had an innate love of animals and compassion for people, particularly those who suffered. So much so, that when she finally met the man she would marry, pianist Robert Guralnik, a good friend asked her “what’s wrong with him?”.
They were married at her family home in December, 1959 not long after Robert’s first performance at Mohonk. They settled in Cornwall, NY in nearby Orange County, and raised three daughters. Their bohemian circle of friends included artists, actors, musicians and educators with social evenings often ending in impromptu concerts and games. Patricia returned to school in her 40s to obtain a degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant.
She was employed by Sylcox Nursing Home (later Elant) in Newburgh for 30 years, where she was known for her light spirit, sense of humor and genuine care for the residents. Following the death of Robert in 1996, Patricia took over the management of the Festival of the Arts at Mohonk, a summer entertainment series that she and Robert co-founded in 1989. Though not someone who relished speaking in front of crowds, Patricia committed to continuing her family legacy of hosting first-class music and entertainment at Mohonk.
Patricia was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 78. Retiring from the festival, she continued to cultivate friendships in High Falls, where she moved to be close to her two eldest daughters and their families. She could frequently be found at the Egg’s Nest and the Last Bite, where her open face and sympathetic ear drew many into conversation. Patricia most prized her ability to make people laugh, often by unexpectedly sharp comments, and a certain “wild card” quality. Based on her Quaker upbringing, it often surprised people to discover that Pat loved to gamble, playing BlackJack and slots at Atlantic City and Vegas, where she earned fancy rooms at the Bellagio. In her final years, Pat lived at the Culinarian’s home in New Paltz, where she took the lead in prompting afternoon board games and enjoyed playing bridge with a committed group in New Paltz.
Patricia was, above all, a caring soul with a wry wit and quiet clarity who adored cats, margaritas, music and parties. She passed peacefully at home surrounded by family on January 30, 2021. A a fiercely proud mother and grandmother, she is survived by her three daughters: Maria Guralnik and Louisa Finn of High Falls, NY, and Susan Guralnik of Los Angeles, CA; her devoted sons-in-law: Sevan Melikyan and Joshua Finn; as well as three grandsons: August and Ezra Finn, and Robert Melikyan.
She will be greatly missed.
Virtual Performances
Check out our new virtual performances page and watch all of our digital content.
Check out our new virtual performances page and watch all of our digital content.
A Message from Miranda
“I don’t want to see the children act like grown ups, I want to see the grown-ups act more like kids.” — Woody Guthrie
I have been wondering lately if Woody Guthrie would still say this today. As a former kid who grew up in the ‘Caravan, I loved the sentiment of the quote above. I remember waiting in the wings backstage, giddy with anticipation . . .
A Message from Miranda
“I don’t want to see the kids acting like grown ups, I want to see the grown-ups act more like kids. ”
A very little Moo on her way to Creative Movement Class. Circa 1993.
I have been wondering lately if Woody Guthrie would still say this today. As a former kid who grew up in the ‘Caravan, I loved the sentiment of the quote above. I remember waiting in the wings backstage, giddy with anticipation, until Amy Fradon said those very words and Livia started dinging on the triangles. That was our cue! We would skip out on to the stage with the biggest smiles on our faces and build, with our bodies and our imaginations alone, a playground.
As I teach my own group of Caravan Kids now--I try to instill in them the same values and lessons I have learned from Livia Vanaver. I teach them to play, to explore, to be curious, and to listen--to each other, and to their instincts. I teach them about the histories of the dance traditions that we train in because I intrinsically understand that learning about the world through movement sinks in to our muscle memories and sticks there forever.
Our bodies remember lessons that our minds forget. What textbooks did I read in third grade? No idea. What dance did I learn in third grade? Easy! The South African Gumboot Dance—which taught me the history of Apartheid and racial oppression in South Africa before I could compose full sentences or read a book for fun. It is hard to describe in words how important it was to have this training as a child. But I’ll try to sum it up concisely: To grow up in The Vanaver Caravan is to grow up whole.
The lessons that The Vanaver Caravan teaches to children and teens feel more precious and vital than ever these days. I don’t want Woody Guthrie’s words to feel sad or ironic to me anymore. I want grown-ups to act like grown ups and be willing to be playful, curious, respectful and kind as children are taught to be. I want to see our children grow up in a world that is healthy and filled with people who listen to those they disagree with, recognize all people as human beings, and treat others with dignity and compassion.
Miranda and Marina Lopez teaching in Udaipur, India. January 2012. Photo by R.J. Partington III.
The Vanaver Caravan teaches these principals in every dance workshop and performance they do. Dance and music are simply the mediums used here to remind people how to be good to each other. What would the world look like if all the grown ups of today got to train as Caravan Kids when they were little? In that world, I am certain the Woody Guthrie would be happy with what he saw.
I want to see this nonprofit not just survive in the coming months and years, but thrive and adapt as the world changes and evolves. In order to build the infrastructure needed, hire and diversify our staff pool, and reach students of all ethnic and financial backgrounds, the simple fact is that we need more funding. There are so many people, organizations and systemic structures in financial need right now—it’s hard to know where to give. I get it. I feel helpless and overwhelmed when I look at the state of the world on a daily basis.
My light and solace is my job at The Vanaver Caravan because I know—in my body—that educating young people in the gentle, wholesome, and creative pedagogy of The Vanaver Caravan, is one of the surest ways to effect real and lasting, positive change. So, if you can, lend your financial support to this company. Your donations will land in good hands, be put to good use, and help children grow up to be whole.
Gratefully,
Miranda (Moo) ten Broeke
Wearer of Many Hats at The Vanaver Caravan