MISSION
#DanceIsResistance #DanceItOut
Founded in 2005 by Bessie Award winning choreographer, Joya Powell, Movement of the People Dance Company is dedicated to addressing historic and present sociocultural injustices through dance. Primarily a Dance Theater company, their choreography combines dynamic Contemporary Dance with traditional dances, and develops a sensitive balance of pedestrian gestural phrases with grounded visceral movements that use breath and musicality at its core. The company is comprised of dancers from diverse multicultural backgrounds and international experiences. Over the years MOPDC has performed in various celebrated dance festivals and venues including: BAM's Howard Gilman Opera House, Lincoln Center's Meet the Artist Saturdays, SummerStage, Casita Maria (Resident Performing Artist 2014-2015), The Bronx Museum of the Arts, La Mama, Triskelion's Split Bill Series, FLICfest, Gibney Dance: Agnes Varis Performing Arts Center, Dance on the Greenway (commission), The Performance Project @ University Settlement (Artist-in-Residence 2012-2013), chashama (Resident Artist 2015 & 2016), Movement Research @ Judson Church, Amnesty International's Human Rights Art Festival (Maryland & NYC), York University (Toronto, ON), The Southern Vermont Dance Festival, Riverside Theatre, BAX, Huntington Arts Festival (Long Island), Dance New Amsterdam, The FLEA Theater, BAAD!, Mudlark Theater (New Orleans), Evoke’s Celebrate Dance Festival (San Diego), and The Outlet Dance Festival (New Jersey), among others. Awards and recognition include: EtM Choreographer + Composer Residency 2018-19, 2017-18 Women in Motion Fellowship, 2017 Schusterman Family Foundation Make it Happen Grant Recipient, 2017 + 2018 Gibney Dance Space Grant Recipient, 2016-17 Dancing While Black Fellowship. In April 2015, MOPDC was featured in Dance Magazine for their choreographic journey in their company repertory piece Her Veiled Reflections. MOPDC has facilitated workshops and residencies at various colleges and community spaces nationally and internationally, and holds an annual Free Day of Dance and acclaimed Winter Intensive. MOPDC is dedicated to connecting cultures through dance, composing socially conscious choreography, exploring the similarities and nuances of traditional world dances, and community engagement.
MOPDC believes movement is a discussion of the mind, body, and soul. It is a conduit of expression, which fortifies the bridge between sentiment and interpretation. The performance of dance allows for the trinity of players (choreographer, dancer, audience) to act out their parts as revolutionaries, influential facets for changing society one show at a time.
For more information and booking: contact(at)movementofthepeopledance.com