Year: 2025-2026
DanceForce Member: Nancy Long
Artist: Jon Lehrer Dance Company
Community Partners: Dancenter of Utica; Utica Dance
Audience: 320
County: Oneida

As part of the mission to bring the dance community together, Utica Dance has hosted several projects under name Utica Dancers Unite! For the second year, Jon Lehrer and Cristiana Cavallo taught a class and choreographic workshop for students aged 13-23. Over the course of six hours on Sunday, April 12, 10:00-4:00pm, seventeen dancers representing three local schools came together to learn from and be inspired by professional dancers. They were challenged to their maximum capacity at the host school, Dancenter of Utica. The short piece that came out of that workshop was performed for the public on Saturday, May 2 at MVCC on the Utica Dance Spring Concert.

The long-term goal is to bring the full company back to perform at MVCC and incorporate performers from the community as a way to guarantee a successful show.

Quote from a parent: My daughter had an incredibly valuable and enriching experience at the Jon Lehrer dance intensive. Her exposure to the modern dance techniques he offers help her grow as a dancer and creative artist. We were very grateful for the opportunity.

Quote from young adult participant: Jon Lehrer’s movement language and philosophy is distinct and comprehensive, and makes for a class that roots deeply in accessibility and fundamentals without sacrificing athletic and artistic rigor. Jon and Cristiana’s contributions to the upstate NY dance community are something dancers of all ages and experience can take away from.