NJ Dance Theatre Ensemble

Dancers Thrill and Triumph as
New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble
performs at RRA's

Sounds of a Summer Night Concert Series

Summit, NJ Over one hundred sixty audience members experienced the gardens and grounds of Reeves-Reed Arboretum anew during the thrilling site-specific dance program offered as part of the Arboretum's Sounds of a Summer Night series this past July 29th.

Fifty gifted dancers, all part of the New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble, led the audience from location to location, offering concertgoers a panoramic view of the lovely grounds as they danced, solo, in duos, and in groups, a diverse repertory by renowned choreographers. This was an evening of works created specifically for and on the grounds of Reeves-Reed Arboretum, and gave both the dancers as well as the audience a new way to experience the nature around them.

Founded in 1969 under the direction of internationally acclaimed ballet master, Alfredo Corvino, and now led by award-winning dancer and choreographer, Artistic Director Nancy Turano, NJDTE fosters advanced ballet, modern, and contemporary dance programs and premieres new works. Although only recently established in a new home base in downtown Summit, NJDTE, together with Reeves-Reed Arboretum, plans to explore the possibility of creating "our own Jacob's Pillow right here in Summit, NJ," muses Turano.

This was the second program of four in the Sounds of a Summer Night series at the Arboretum. The next concert, an evening with internationally renowned jazz guitar prodigy Julian Lage, is scheduled for Wednesday, August 12. A full calendar of the summer concerts is available at www.reeves-reedarboretum.org.

All Sounds of a Summer Night concerts are on Wednesday evenings, rain or shine and begin with the Arboretum grounds opening up a 6:00 pm for concertgoers to picnic. The performances are from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The cost is free to RRA Members (thanks to underwriting support from Investors Bank). There is a $10 per person donation for non-members ($5 for students). These concerts are made possible, in part, by support from The Grand Summit Hotel, Tracy and Nick McKee, and the Summit Area Public Foundation. Visit www.reeves-reedarboretum.org to learn about the Arboretum's programs, camps, workshops and event.

About Reeves-Reed Arboretum: Celebrating over 40 years as an historic public garden, education resource, and non-profit conservancy, Reeves-Reed Arboretum seeks to engage, educate and enrich the public through horticulture and environmental education, and the care and utilization of the gardens and estate. Open 7 days a week from dawn till dusk, the Arboretum is listed on both the National and New Jersey State Historic Registers. Funding for RRA has been made possible in part by the NJ Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State, through a grant administered by the Union County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, Dept. of Parks & Community Renewal.