WHERE SHE ONCE STOOD
bringing the Crane House & Historic YWCA to life through dance
in partnership with Montclair History Center
Location:
Crane House & Historic YWCA
110 Orange Rd, Montclair, NJ 07042
Performances:
10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm 4.30pm, 5.30pm
Saturay, September 20, 2025
Tickets:
$30 General Admission
Purchase: Where She Once Stood on Viewcy
Tickets must be purchased in advance; no tickets will be sold at the door.
Additional Donations Welcome at Ticket Check-out
The Moving Architects is a nonprofit organization that relies on the support of our community. Adding a donation to your tickets allows you to support not only this show, but the dancers and future growth and vision of the company.
The Moving Architects’ Where She Once Stood is a dance performance project that brings to life the rich history of the Crane House & Historic YWCA. In partnership with Montclair History Center, this site-immersive performance weaves dance and music together with the spaces and historical narratives.
Audiences are guided through multiple rooms in the house to witness intimate and captivating performances by an all-female cast. Each room reveals a different era, from the lives of three generations of the Crane family and the enslaved people and servants who were part of the household (1796–1900), to the period when the home was a segregated YWCA for Black women and girls, including boarders (1920–1965). Grounded in the company’s signature aesthetic of strong, fiercely feminine dance, the project’s choreography blends bold, innovative physicality with moments of tenderness and subtlety.
This project honors the women of the Crane House & Historic YWCA by giving physical form to their experiences and centering women’s voices in the spaces where they once stood. Where She Once Stood builds on The Moving Architects’ extensive history of producing innovative, community-focused, and feminist-driven dance work.
Artistic Director: Erin Carlisle Norton
Company Dancers: Mariah Anton-Arters, Nicole Arakaki, Karma Chuki, Emily Cicio, Kelly Guerrero, Cecilia Mitchell
Musicians: Kristine Hart (vocalist) Rachel O’Connor (violinist)
What to Expect during the Performance
Small groups of audience members will be guided through the first floor of the Crane House & Historic YWCA, experiencing intimate performances in each room. Guests will remain standing as they move from space to space, with the full experience lasting approximately 45 minutes.
Parking and Accessibility
Free street parking is available on Orange Road and neighboring streets. The performance space is accessible by ramp or elevator, with a gravel parking lot located within 30 feet of the entrance for those with accessibility needs. For further accommodations, please contact The Moving Architects at least 2 weeks prior to performance: info@themovingarchitects.org
This project is made possible by a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this project do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or the New Jersey Council for the Humanities. For more info: The Moving Architects Grant Press Release
This project is made possible by funds from the Essex County Division of Cultural Affairs, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
Follow the process: Project Blog
Read more about the project: Crane House Preview Media Kit
Read the Press Release: Where She Once Stood
top photo: Parlor (1796-1840) with Nicole Arakaki and Mariah Anton-Arters, photo Julie Lemberger
bottom photo: Dining Room (1840-1900) with Cecilia Mitchell, Karma Chuki, and Kelly Guerrero, photo Julie Lemberger
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