SummerDance Student Showcase
A Night at the Movies: SummerDance Student Showcase
August 8, 2025 | 6:00 PM | Rosendale Theatre
Pay-What-You-Can Admission (Suggested: $15)
The Vanaver Caravan is proud to present “A Night at the Movies”, an original live performance showcasing the work of young dancers and musicians from the 2025 SummerDance Intensive. This one-night-only event will take place on Friday, August 8 at 6:00 PM at the Rosendale Theatre. Admission is pay-what-you-can, with a suggested donation of $15.
Directed by Brian Lawton in collaboration with The Vanaver Caravan’s acclaimed faculty, “A Night at the Movies” is a dynamic, full-length showcase that reimagines iconic cinematic genres through live dance, music, and visual storytelling. With choreography and concepts inspired by everything from golden-age musicals to action thrillers and indie favorites, this production invites audiences to experience the magic of film through the visceral language of movement.
This curated evening performance marks the culmination of The Vanaver Caravan’s two-week SummerDance Intensive, held at Lifebridge Sanctuary in Rosendale. Open to students aged 9 through teens, the program offers immersive training in world dance styles, contemporary forms, and theater, all within a collaborative, community-centered learning environment.
The evening will feature original choreography in a wide range of styles, including:
Modern Dance with Charlotte Strickles
Ballet with Nina Jirka
Lindy Hop with Rafal Pustelny
Bollywood with Krupa Garachh
Soca with Ariana Brisport
House Dance with Gabriel Vanaver
Appalachian Clogging with Livia Vanaver
Theater and Physical Comedy with Broadway veteran Herman Sebek
Cinematic projections and film-inspired visual design will accompany each piece, creating an immersive environment that transforms the Rosendale Theatre stage into a living movie reel.
“This show is a celebration of youth artistry, collaboration, and imagination,” says Lawton. “Our students aren't just learning steps; they're learning how to tell stories, how to support each other, and how to create something bigger than themselves. That’s what makes this program so special.”