Press, Testimonials,
&
Awards

Praise for the Caravan

“These highly versatile performers all eagerly explore every cranny of their art and create an evening alight with the joy of discovery!”
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— Doris Hering, Dance Magazine
““An explosion of joy, rhythms, and energy!”
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— Les Saisons Nouvelles de la Danse, IV Biennale de la Danse a Lyon
““You’ll have to see The Vanaver Caravan to believe the high professional skills they have developed to bring out the old folk traditions - and then to see how they make the audience feel part of the show. In the end, everyone is on their feet cheering!””
— Pete Seeger
““A rousing hoe-down night when the fleeting art of dance looked a good deal less ephemeral.”
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— The New York Times
““The Vanaver Caravan looked and sounded like Copeland crossed with hoe-down, a peak combination of music and dance straight out of America’s folk treasury. Their performances were packed with wit and muscularity. In the setting of the “Tanz&Folk Fest Rudolstadt,” it was as if The Vanaver Caravan had transplanted the Woodstock Mountains and Appalachians onto Thuringerwald soil!””
— Ken Hunt, writer for Mojo, Folk Roots, Folker, and Pulse
““Unpretentious down-home spirit and considerable technical skill...the troupe really got to show its stuff.””
— The Boston Globe
““A polished and vivacious group of dancers and musicians held the audience captivated...ingeniously conceived!”
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— The Miami Herald

Articles & Reviews

Awards

  • Recipient of Mill Street Loft’s Friend of the Arts Award.  Dr. Lloyd Jaeger’s introduction. 

  • Recipient of the Teen Hot Records Award. Each year Max’s Kansas City Project awards a deserving teen in an arts discipline this grant to attend a summer program.  The goal is to inspire, motivate and educate teens by turning challenges into opportunities.  Our Youth Company and  TVC student, Zack Marshal received this award.

  • Recipient of Ulster County Cultural Services and Promotion Fund sponsored by the Dutchess County Arts Council for TVCs Symphony Premiere with Hudson Valley Philharmonic.

  • The New York State Assembly awarded The Vanaver Caravan a Citation commending the company for its long-standing “devotion to the welfare of the community and its citizenry.”

  • The Eisteddfod Award was presented to Bill and Livia for their many years of dedication, inspiration, and service to the practice and dissemination of traditional folk song music and dance.

  • The Association of Teaching Artists presented Bill and Livia with their Distinguished Service in the Arts in Education Field.

  • The University of Rhode Island Center for Nonviolence & Peace Studies recognized The Vanaver Caravan for career contributions using music as a tool of Peace, Nonviolence and Social Justice.

  • The Ulster County Legislature proclaimed The Vanaver Caravan Ambasadors of Goodwill and greetings to the people of Rudostadt, Germany.

  • The Vanaver Caravan Dance and Music Company is honored to be a recipient of the prestigious Cultural Achievement Award from Art Times for enriching the quality of life through the arts.

  • Highland Cultural Center presented the Hudson Valley Award to The Vanaver Caravan for the quality of their performances involving young people of all ages and their dedication to multiculturalism and world peace.