America in Motion is a music and dance work that explores humanity in the face of systems that too often place profit and productivity above human dignity and joy. It is a story about labor and about grief, holding the beauty, intention, and mythos of America alongside the harsher realities that have always existed and feel especially present today.

Centered around The Vanaver Caravan’s founding belief that dance and music can communicate what words often cannot, the work brings the company’s mission into an American landscape. It asks what is lost when industry and capital eclipse human wellbeing, and what becomes possible when people move, listen, and work together.

Conceived and directed by Brian T. Lawton, Associate Artistic Director of Dance, and developed in collaboration with The Vanaver Caravan’s Artistic Visioning Committee, America in Motion reflects on America not as a single narrative but as a living story shaped by many hands. 

The piece is set in an American diner, a gathering place where musicians and dancers move through the environment portraying the laborers and roles that shape everyday life in this country. Drawing inspiration from the Caravan’s legacy works, including Pastures of Plenty, Turn, Turn, Turn, and EarthBeat, the production extends the vision of founders Bill and Livia Vanaver into a contemporary conversation about American identity, labor, and belonging.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, America in Motion invites audiences to reflect on where we have been, what we have inherited, and the future we hope to build together. Rooted in American heritage and shaped by the present moment, the work is both a reflection and a call toward connection, responsibility, and shared humanity.

The score is performed live and features fiddle, guitar, banjo, vocals, and percussion. Movement draws from American dance traditions and contemporary forms, woven together in service of the story. Educational materials and school programs are available in conjunction with public performances.

America in Motion is a deeply human offering for audiences of all ages, grounded in legacy and created around the belief that our collective rhythms, stories, and labor still have the power to move us forward.