MorDance: A Place for Movement, Community, and Celebration
I had the pleasure of attending MorDance’s first open rehearsal of 2025 on Monday, January 27th. MorDance offers the chance for the public to sit in on the dance company’s practice sessions to give folks a chance to peer behind the curtain to see how a performance comes together, as well as ask questions and mingle with the artists and dancers.
“It makes the dancers human,” choreographer/MorDance founder Morgan McEwen said.
The audience rarely gets a chance to see a body of work at its earliest stages, unedited, watching the collaboration, creative teamwork, and problem-solving among the dancers, in progress. The open rehearsals also create a deeper connection with the work, allowing the audience to feel more connected to the performances—when viewed at their earliest, rawest stages, it’s even more impactful to see the final performance when it’s pristine.
Looking Forward to Spring
At this open rehearsal, the team worked on a piece for their spring performance called “Trees,” inspired by Suzanne Simard’s research on how trees communicate via mycorrhizal connections and their support system; if a tree has an overflow of nitrogen, it sends its extra nitrogen to the tree next to it. The performance encourages the audience to not just think about this in terms of trees, but how we as humans all give to each other as well. The performance will also have a few firsts, including experimenting with IFR fabric voile, LED lighting, a projection artist, as well as a few new musical pieces currently being composed that will go along with the routines.
Inclusive Community Engagement
But the spring performance isn’t the only event on the docket for the new year. MorDance has a vibrant 2025 planned, with a slate of upcoming events, classes, talks, and chances to connect with the Yonkers community both in dance and beyond. A few of their offerings include Adult Yoga, Adult Ballet, Adult Contemporary, and Teen Movement classes. More info can be found on their website here.
Their next upcoming event is on Valentine’s Day: A Night of Elegance, Fun, and Romance. Ticket buyers will have the chance to enjoy a captivating performance by MorDance, followed by gourmet cheese, wine, and non-alcoholic beverage pairings curated by Bloomy Cheese & Provisions. Then, ballroom dancer and instructor Zachary Bordonaro will offer some fun and easy dance steps for couples, friends, or solo attendees to learn. Space is limited, so it’s advised to reserve your spot early. Tickets can be purchased here.
