Dance in the New Year with a free performance and presentation by Lydia Johnson Dance.

The acclaimed dance company can be seen at 3 p.m., Monday, Dec. 31 at The Studio at the Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, Maplewood Village, 10 Durand Road.

This New Year’s Eve opportunity to learn more about the creative process is being sponsored by the South Orange and Maplewood Municipal Alliance against drug and alcohol abuse.

LJD’s professional dancers from NYC will perform excerpts from Johnson’s works. The dances will be broken down to their design elements for discussion, followed by a Q&A with the choreographer and dancers. The presentation is appropriate for adults and children ages 6 and up.

“For musicality and fine structuring, few people currently choreographing in the New York dance scene can compare with Lydia Johnson,” writes Philip Gardner in Oberon’s Grove, NYC 2012. “There is thought, passion and tenderness in her work, and a depth of musical resonance that is very satisfying to behold. “

Lydia Johnson Dance holds ongoing dance and choreography classes as well as a Summer Dance Program at The Burgdorff Performing Arts Center in Maplewood. Lydia Johnson Dance is also in residence at The Far Brook School in Short Hills where the company teaches dance and choreography to nursery through 6th grades.

Learn more at lydiajohnsondance.org