(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Don’t miss a special virtual production featuring Nimbus Dance’s acclaimed social justice initiative, Lynchtown/Thistown, on April 24 at 7:00pm livestreamed from The Grunin Center. Click here to pre-register for this virtual event. Tickets are free.

Two iconic American modern dances will be performed: Charles Weidman’s 1936 masterwork, Lynchtown, and Pearl Primus’ renowned 1943 solo Strange Fruit. Both works explore race, violence and mob mentality, and illustrate the sociopolitical foundation of America’s early modern dance movement.

OCC and PAA dance students, poetry and artwork by OCC students, and a discussion with artists from Nimbus Dance will be part of the evening. Catherine Mancuso, college lecturer II in Dance is excited for her dance students who have been a part of this dance project and developed a piece in partnership with Nimbus Dance.

“My classes have been working with Nimbus for weeks, and one of the company’s members has worked with them creating a new work,” said Mancuso. “Each dancer created a phrase to contribute to the piece — the theme is self-help and mental health. This is timely, given the pandemic, with so many of us feeling isolated and unsure, craving social interaction and wondering where things are going.”

OCC’s dance students filmed their finished work, which will be shown as part of the virtual event.

Nimbus, founded in 2005 and based in Jersey City, New Jersey, has been at the forefront of excellence in the arts, civic engagement and equitable impact. The company performs nationally and throughout the greater New Jersey/New York region. Now in its 15th season, Nimbus is led by founding Artistic Director Samuel Pott, acclaimed choreographer and former soloist dancer of the Martha Graham Dance Company. Nimbus’ repertory is known for structured and musical dances that evoke deep-rooted emotional connection. Through the organization’s three interrelated fields – company, school, and presenting – Nimbus is committed to artistic excellence, community engagement and progress, in so doing, they impact 16,000 people each year. Nimbus’ commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is recognized by various foundations and is reflected in its educational/outreach programming and artistic content, and in the makeup of Nimbus’ staff, company dancers, teachers and board of directors.

This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Grunin Center is located on the campus of Ocean County College in Toms River, New Jersey.