Carolyn Dorfman is known as a creator of evocative dances that reflect her concerns

about the human condition. Hailed as the consummate storyteller, Dorfman, a child of Holocaust survivors, has created a celebrated body of work that honors her Eastern European Jewish roots, heritage, and her family’s Holocaust and American immigrant experiences. Embodied by her stellar, diverse dancers and artistic collaborators, her interdisciplinary and intercultural approach on the stage and in the community explores the rich tapestry of human experience, tradition, and stories. Celebrating over four decades, Carolyn Dorfman Dance tours nationally and internationally sharing both the specific and universal stories of pain and loss, as well as redemption, compassion and hope. For DUMBO, CDD presents the prologue of her 2026 premiere, THE HERO WITHIN-The Story of Max Heller, Mary Mills and Miracles. Two lives intertwined by

bravery, compassion, and defiance in the face of injustice. Discover how One person. One voice. One act. ... can change everything.

Yoshiko Chuma is an avant-garde choreographer, director, and founder of The School of Hard Knocks, established in New York City in 1980. Born in Kyoto, Chuma had no training in dance and visual arts before moving to the United States, where she became a key figure in experimental performance. Her work blends choreography, improvisation, multimedia, and political themes, often addressing displacement, memory, and cultural identity. The School of Hard Knocks is not a traditional company but a fluid collective of international artists collaborating across disciplines. Together, they have performed globally in theaters, galleries, and public spaces, emphasizing process over product and challenging conventional definitions of dance and performance art.

Founded in 1993 by Artistic Director Jacqulyn Buglisi and former principal dancers of the Martha Graham Dance Company, Buglisi Dance Theatre (BDT) is internationally recognized for creating multicultural dance performances that explore humanity, resilience, and social justice. The company has performed at renowned venues including Lincoln Center and internationally across Europe, Australia, Israel, and Mexico.

BDT is especially known for the “Table of Silence Project 9/11,” an annual public performance at Lincoln Center that honors victims of terrorism and promotes peace and unity around the world. Since 2011, the project has reached millions globally through livestreams and public performances.

Beyond performances, BDT is committed to education and community outreach through workshops, artist residencies, and collaborations with schools and community organizations throughout the United States.

Founded in 1974, Jennifer Muller/The Works (JMTW) has captivated global audiences with passionate choreography and exceptional dancers, performing in 39 countries, 4 continents and 30 U.S. states. Twenty‑seven New York seasons at City Center, Joyce, Cedar Lake and New York Live Arts, the company has toured from Buenos Aires, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro to Shanghai, Moscow and Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts. Celebrated for artistic diversity, JMTW creates emotionally authentic, socially conscious work that fosters cross‑cultural understanding and positive change. For this festival, JMTW is presenting "City" (1988), which captures urban energy and complexity through contemporary movement, storytelling, intricate formations and rhythmic motifs that mirror the hustle, exploring connection, isolation and the relentless pace of city living. 

WHITE WAVE Dance, led by visionary Artistic Director Young Soon Kim, is an internationally acclaimed contemporary dance company celebrated for daring innovation, emotional depth, and global reach. Its name reflects identity: “WHITE” honors Korea’s national color and cultural spirit, while “WAVE” symbolizes the dynamic rise of Korean culture—Hallyu—worldwide. For decades, Kim has pioneered bringing Korean artistry into vibrant dialogue with the international dance community.
Since its founding, WHITE WAVE has performed on major stages across Asia, Europe, and North America, including the National Theater of Seoul, National Theater of Taipei, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, BAM Fisher, La MaMa Moves! Dance Festival, Ailey Citigroup Theater, Vancouver Int. Dance Festival, and NY’s SummerStage. Recent highlights include acclaimed performances at the 2025 Mostra Internacional de Dança de São Paulo and the ChangMu International Dance Festival. WHITE WAVE’s work has been featured on WWOR TV, Fox 5, PBS’s NYC ARTS, and CNN’s Inside Asia. Honors include a 2025 ITI Award nomination, the 2023 Bessies Angel Honoree Award, and a Jerome Robbins Foundation grant for Eternal NOW, archived at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. In May 2026, WHITE WAVE premiered Here NOW So Long at New York Live Arts to standing ovations.