On June 9, 2024, Mohonk Consultations hosted 130 people at the Mohonk Mountain House Skating Pavilion to celebrate and honor The Vanaver Caravan for its more than 50 years of promoting peace, celebrating our shared humanity, and transforming young lives through the magic of music and dance.
The Vanaver Caravan was established in 1972 by musician/composer Bill Vanaver and dancer/choreographer Livia Drapkin Vanaver with the mission of using the dance and music of world culture and tradition to inspire harmonious existence and to celebrate our humanity.
Their love for presenting dance and music from the world’s diverse cultures has been delighting audiences with downhome, spirited performance throughout the US, Europe, Southwest Asia and North Africa.
Guest speakers for the honorees included Maria Guralnik, Curator of the Mohonk Summer Festival of the Arts; Chris Silva, Executive DIrector of the Bardavon Theater; Julian Lines of the Aurobindo Center, and former NYS Assembly member Kevin Cahill.
Maria Guralnik highlighted Mohonk’s long history of arts events, and how the Vanavers brought “world music” to Mohonk in the 1970s. In addition, she underscored the humanity of the Vanavers, offering so many musicians and dancers a literal family over the years.
Chris Silva offered stories about the mythic quality that the Vanavers bring to performances, and the infamous way that they rehearse right up until curtain time. He shared anecdotes about the wonderful costumes and imagination in their programs; dancers “freaking out” musicians onstage by whisking past them wearing giant wings or flying over them on ropes.
Julian Lines revealed how the Vanavers cross boundaries not only in music/dance but also culturally in the larger world. He shared a story about them bringing children from North India to South India, and teaching all of them the Virginia Reel. For the audience, Lines said, The Vanavers “bring a palpable experience in the heart and the body”.
Kevin Cahill offered that “watching a child learn to dance is like watching a flower bloom”, and that the Vanavers have been “cultivating flowers enough for a world of gardens.”
Following these tributes, the audience was treated to a classic sampling of what the Vanavers offer: individual and group dances from all over the world accompanied by live music and rousing feeling. And following that, as if on cue, a double rainbow appeared in the sky, inspiring everyone to rush outside and look up with a feeling of awe, communion, and joy.
The event was truly uplifting and fitting of “these dear people”: a celebration of community—both local and global—and the best of humanity.
The speakers, the sound, the performance, the food and wine, the double rainbow!!—all great. You can’t plan for that kind of spirit but sometimes it happens.
—Award Celebration Attendee
Sponsorship support provided by the M&T Bank Foundation.