The Moving Architects’ performance project brings the rich history of Montclair’s Crane House & Historic YWCA to life through dance. In partnership with Montclair History Center, this site-immersive performance weaves dance and music together with the spaces and historical narratives of the building. Audiences are guided through the house and grounds to witness intimate and captivating dance performances by the intergenerational and all-female cast. By engaging deeply with the site’s history and incorporating the diverse voices and stories of those who lived there, the performance transforms the site into a living celebration of its storied past, offering audiences a profound and intimate connection to the area’s rich history. Tickets will be released after June.
Artists (current roster)
Choreographer: Erin Carlisle Norton
Dancers: Mariah Anton, Nicole Arakaki, Emily Cicio, Kelly Guerrero, Karma Chuki, Cecilia Mitchell
The Moving Architects, led by Erin Carlisle Norton, is an acclaimed all-female modern dance company celebrated for its “brave, bold, and fearless” work with a “fresh and daring aesthetic.” The Moving Architects (TMA) connects people intimately to dance through original performances, educational movement programming for all ages, and public discourse via our popular podcast.
Our dance works explore feminist narratives and ideologies, often incorporating interactive materials and sites, to embody current and historically lived approaches to the female experience. TMA has an extensive history performing, teaching, and creating throughout the NJ/NYC-area and has toured across the USA and in Morocco, Guatemala, and Central Asia with the US Dept of State. Through initiatives offering pay-what-you-can classes and workshops for adult dancers, TMA also fosters community through dance. TMA has produced Movers & Shapers: A Dance Podcast since 2015, featuring interviews with diverse figures who shape the dance field. Norton is the recipient of two Choreographic Fellowships from the NJ State Council on the Arts.
This project is made possible by a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. For more info: The Moving Architects Grant Press Release. This project is also made possible by funds from the Essex County Division of Cultural Affairs, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
Learn more!
Follow the process: Project Blog
Read more about the project: Crane House Preview Media Kit
Read about the project in Montclair Local
Follow for behind-the-scenes video and photos: Facebook and Instagram