Madison audiences will get an afternoon of movement and memory on Dec. 5, when Carolyn Dorfman Dance presents “Every Body Tells a Story: Folk Tales, Family Stories, and Real Lives in Motion” at 4 p.m. The interactive afternoon will feature artistic director Carolyn Dorfman and the company, bringing dance and storytelling to the stage.
According to New Jersey Hills Media Group, the Saturday show will feature excerpts from “Dance Stories” and other works. The Union-based company is inviting attendees to what it calls an afternoon of dance and storytelling, blending folk tales and family history with the kind of personal narrative that has become a signature of Dorfman's choreography.
The afternoon will be interactive, with audience participation in story making.
A Familiar Face in Madison
This will not be Carolyn Dorfman Dance's first visit to the borough. The company returned to the Madison Community Arts Center on Feb. 23, 2025, for a Family Backstage Pass performance described as an interactive afternoon of dance and audience participation. That program, held at 10 Kings Road, included excerpts from “Waves,” the duet “Keystone,” and the comical “Divide and Conquer.”
The company's history of blending performance with community participation stretches back further still. Carolyn Dorfman Dance marked its 40th anniversary in 2024 with “Celebrate 40/NYC,” a two-night engagement at The Ailey Citigroup Theater on June 12 and 13 that paired repertory excerpts with two New York City premieres, according to Dance Enthusiast. The Dec. 5 Madison date suggests the troupe continues to lean into works rooted in personal and family storytelling as it moves into its fifth decade.
