Livia Drapkin Vanaver

Co-Founder/Co-Artistic Director/Performer

For over 52 years, Livia Vanaver has traveled extensively with her husband, musician/composer Bill Vanaver, and their ensemble, The Vanaver Caravan, performing and collecting traditional dance and music from cultures around the world. Their work is celebrated for creatively adapting traditional sources into original performances that resonate with audiences of all ages. Livia's dedication to fostering community through dance has led her to collaborate with the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation on peace projects in Eastern Europe and with families affected by 9/11.

Livia holds a BFA in Dance from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Over the past 40 years, she has been a pioneer in arts education across New York State, advocating for the teaching of world dance and global citizenship in schools. She played a pivotal role at the Academy for the Love of Learning, working on the Teacher Renewal Project with Aaron Stern, and has taught at Columbia University’s Graduate Theater Program. Currently, she teaches World Dance at Hofstra University and was a founding member of the Mountain Laurel Waldorf School in New Paltz, NY.

Livia’s contributions to the arts have been recognized with several prestigious awards:

• Eisteddfod Award: Presented by the Folk Music Society of New York, honoring Livia and Bill Vanaver for their dedication to traditional folk music and dance.

• Mill Street Loft’s Friend of the Arts Award: Awarded for her significant impact on the arts community and arts education.

• New York State Assembly Citation: Recognized for The Vanaver Caravan’s long-standing contributions to community welfare through the arts.

• Distinguished Achievement Award by Mohonk Consultations: Received in 2024 for her commitment to cultural exchange and community building through dance and music.

• Arts Mid-Hudson Artist Organization Award: Honored at the Ulster County Executive's Arts Awards for her significant contributions to the arts in the Hudson Valley.

• Women in Business Award: Highlighted for her leadership and impact in the arts, particularly through her work with The Vanaver Caravan and her dedication to arts education.

Livia's work was also featured in the HUDSY Original Series *Move Me*.

The HUDSY Original Series Move Me showcases the region's most inspiring dancers, choreographers, and performers, taking a deep dive into the soul behind the artists and allowing each to tell their own unique story and detail their creative process and where their inspiration comes from.

THIS EPISODE FEATURES Livia Vanaver - Co-Founder, Co-Artistic Director, and Performer at the Vanaver Caravan that performs original, world-infused choreography and music, both locally and internationally.