JOY: Dances for Midwinter
New Haven, CT
Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 3 pm and 7 pm
Episcopal Church of St. Paul & St. James
57 Olive St, New Haven, CT
Jersey City, NJ
Sundays December 7 and 14, 2025 at 6 pm
Grace Church Van Vorst
39 Erie Street, Jersey City, NJ
Bringing light to the dark of midwinter, the Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble presents a program of soaring dances to glorious music, manifesting joy in deep and nuanced ways. In this program for all ages, the company draws from three traditions of modern dance to express wonder, community, and hope.
Anna Sokolow’s Ballade, perhaps her most lyrical dance, explores the restlessness and thrill of young love, set to music by Scriabin. Sokolow’s Preludes, reconstructed by Tonia Shimin, for whom it was created, is a rich and expressive homage to the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff.
Schubert Impromptu, choreographed by Claudia Gitelman and reconstructed by Pamela Levy, reckons with loss yet resounds with hope.
The centerpiece of the program is a suite from Charles Weidman’s glorious tour de force, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, directed by Gail Corbin. Like a stained glass window come to vibrant life, Oratorio conveys joy and hope. And yes, there are shepherds!
Christmas Oratorio. Photos by Steven Pisano and Jaqlin Medlock
Meet our guest directors
JOY: Dances for Midwinter
New Haven, CT
Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 3 pm and 7 pm
Episcopal Church of St. Paul & St. James
57 Olive St, New Haven, CT
Tickets $25 / $10 children 10 and younger
(Tickets also available at the door, if not sold out.)
Jersey City, NJ
Sundays December 7 and 14, 2025 at 6 pm
Grace Church Van Vorst
39 Erie Street, Jersey City, NJ
Tickets $20 / $10 children 10 and younger
(Tickets also available at the door, if not sold out.)