The Company will be presenting our new work, America in Motion, at the Adirondack Lake Center for the Arts for an evening celebrating labor, community, and the American spirit, then invites audiences to become part of the story themselves.
The evening begins with a one-hour performance of America in Motion, followed by a lively community square dance led by company artists and accompanied by live music. No experience or partner is necessary, just a willingness to join in.
For 54 years, The Vanaver Caravan has created performances that use dance and music to explore how people live, work, gather, and understand one another. Conceived and directed by Brian T. Lawton, Associate Artistic Director of Dance, America in Motion turns its attention to labor, industry, and the human cost of unchecked profit.
Set in an American diner, the production follows the people whose labor shapes everyday life. Through live music and dance, it explores what happens when profit and productivity become more important than human dignity and joy, while celebrating the resilience, humor, and humanity that persist despite those pressures.
Drawing inspiration from beloved Vanaver Caravan works including Pastures of Plenty: A Tribute to Woody Guthrie, Turn, Turn, Turn: Celebrating Pete Seeger in Dance & Music, and EarthBeat: A Rhythmic Journey Around the World, America in Motion blends live music, dynamic dance, and slice-of-life storytelling into an emotional journey through the lives, labor, laughter, and shared rhythms of an American diner.
Following the performance, the theater transforms into a community square dance, inviting audience members onto the dance floor to experience the music, movement, and togetherness at the heart of The Vanaver Caravan's work. Whether you're an experienced dancer or stepping onto the floor for the very first time, everyone is welcome.
Performed with live fiddle, banjo, guitar, vocals, and percussion, America in Motion combines American folk dance traditions, including Appalachian clogging, with contemporary movement, body percussion, and theatrical storytelling. Together, the performance and community dance create an evening that is both thought-provoking and joyful, celebrating not only the stories that shape America, but the simple act of coming together in music and movement.
EVENT INFORMATION
Saturday, August 8, 2026, 6:30–8:30 PM
Where: Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts, Blue Mountain Lake, NY
Performance: Approximately one hour, followed by a community square dance with live music. No experience or partner necessary.
Tickets: https://adirondacklakes.ticketspice.com/vanaver-caravan