Following eleven years of visionary leadership at the American Repertory Ballet, Graham Lustig has formed his own dance company, Lustig Dance Theatre (LTD), which is in its premiere season and already is an extraordinary new arts organization in the heart of downtown New Brunswick.
Mr. Lustig is in the midst of creating and reviving a season of innovative dance repertoire and has dedicated his company to using live music in each of their performances. He has formed a mutually beneficial partnership with Middlesex County College, which was launched last fall with numerous events celebrating Mexico’s Day of the Dead, including art exhibitions, music, readings and the premiere of a new Lustig work, “Luna Mexicana” as well as the inaugural performance of the new company, which received rave reviews.
LDT is also weaving itself into the fabric of the New Brunswick community, not only through dance classes for all ages but also through offering special events such as Wellness Days, an event in April that will combine classes in movement with classes in healthy living and eating, as well as being a showcase for the studio. Mr. Lustig is also developing a sequential program, starting in 2nd grade and continuing on through 5th grade, which utilizes the curriculum developed by Dodge grantee Young Audiences as part of the Dodge Foundation’s Dance Initiative. These classes will also have a healthy living and eating component in each class encouraging the students to think about the way they are treating their bodies, as they work on their dance technique.
In fact, LDT touches almost everything we care about as an organization: innovative and creative art, education at all levels for children and adults, service to the surrounding community, and even healthy foods. For these reasons, Dodge is happy to welcome Lustig Dance Theatre as a new grantee.
For an in-depth look at why Dodge sees Lustig as a model for dance companies, see Program Officer Wendy Liscow’s blog post, “The Formula for a Successful New Dance Company.”
Images: Lustig Dance Theatre
Lustig Dance Theatre company photo by Dana-Leigh Forman
Luna Mexicana photos by Saskia Marina Photography