About the Company:
Photo Credit: Lindsay Benson Garrett
Motion X Dance DC is one of the fastest growing companies in the Washington DC area. Artistic Director, Stephanie L. Dorrycott, founded the company in 2013 with the goal of creating a cutting edge repertory company that supported artists in the development of their artistic individuality. In addition, the company is passionate about creating accessible art, attracting new audiences for dance, and developing innovative and relevant works that reflect on the world we live in. Our mission is to share innovative and thought provoking dance works to all kinds of people, artistic and not, presented from a diverse range of choreographers in a collaborative environment. Motion X provides a platform for artists and choreographers to become their best selves. Through collaboration, the rehearsal process, and artistic development, the choreography we present is a reflection of the artists' diversity. Motion X artists use their technical skill as a base to explore further, discovering more effective styles of contemporary movement. Through this process, our repertoire opens up a deeper connection to the community and reaches the widest audience possible.
As an organization in the arts, we recognize our responsibility to the surrounding communities. Motion X is passionate about education and hosts an annual Summer Workshop for professional level dancers and advanced students. The Summer Workshop has become the company's largest event each season, drawing dancers from colleges and dance programs across the East Coast. All educational programs are intended to further the training of the aspiring professional dancer, leading them to discover their truest artistic voice. Each workshop teaches the "Motion X" way of moving through space and highlights our versatility and unique movement style in the DC region.
In addition to education and training programs, Motion X Dance participates in multiple outreach events per year. Past events include The One I Feed Dance Benefit and our presentation at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC. It is our goal as a company to share our passion for dance with as many people as we can in places that may not experience it otherwise. Our immersive dance performances promote a sense of hope, creativity, and offer a form of expression in a non-verbal way.
The company has produced successful productions as part of Capital Fringe Festival and Atlas Intersections Festival, receiving accolades from critics and reviewers of DC Theatre Scene, DC Metro Theater Arts, and Washington City Paper. The company has also appeared on TEDx Herndon and made their debut at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2016. The performance on the Millennium Stage received high praise from the DC Dance Journalism Project. In 2017, Motion X was selected as a Resident Company at the Joy of Motion Dance Center in Washington, DC. The partnership with Joy of Motion will continue throughout the 2018-19 season. Most recently, MXDC Artistic Director, Stephanie Dorrycott's work, Comme je Suis will be presented this Spring at the Mid-Atlantic Choreographer's Showcase in Richmond, VA. Motion X Dance DC is fiscally sponsored by the Greater Washington Dance Center in Reston, VA.
As an organization in the arts, we recognize our responsibility to the surrounding communities. Motion X is passionate about education and hosts an annual Summer Workshop for professional level dancers and advanced students. The Summer Workshop has become the company's largest event each season, drawing dancers from colleges and dance programs across the East Coast. All educational programs are intended to further the training of the aspiring professional dancer, leading them to discover their truest artistic voice. Each workshop teaches the "Motion X" way of moving through space and highlights our versatility and unique movement style in the DC region.
In addition to education and training programs, Motion X Dance participates in multiple outreach events per year. Past events include The One I Feed Dance Benefit and our presentation at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC. It is our goal as a company to share our passion for dance with as many people as we can in places that may not experience it otherwise. Our immersive dance performances promote a sense of hope, creativity, and offer a form of expression in a non-verbal way.
The company has produced successful productions as part of Capital Fringe Festival and Atlas Intersections Festival, receiving accolades from critics and reviewers of DC Theatre Scene, DC Metro Theater Arts, and Washington City Paper. The company has also appeared on TEDx Herndon and made their debut at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2016. The performance on the Millennium Stage received high praise from the DC Dance Journalism Project. In 2017, Motion X was selected as a Resident Company at the Joy of Motion Dance Center in Washington, DC. The partnership with Joy of Motion will continue throughout the 2018-19 season. Most recently, MXDC Artistic Director, Stephanie Dorrycott's work, Comme je Suis will be presented this Spring at the Mid-Atlantic Choreographer's Showcase in Richmond, VA. Motion X Dance DC is fiscally sponsored by the Greater Washington Dance Center in Reston, VA.
Motion X Dance DC: The X Factor
Photo Credit: Ruth Judson
Our X Factor can be defined as a movement style that is present and recognizable in all Motion X artists. The movement style of the company has developed over time and has evolved since its start in 2013. MXDC movers find a deep connection between breath and their extension as a way of expanding the reach of the body vertically and horizontally to new limits. Motion X Founder, Stephanie Dorrycott developed this movement method as a way of bringing the dancer to an more expressive place, artistically and technically. This technique allows energy to surge throughout the body as the movements seamlessly connect to one another in an effortless way. Grounded in roots of ballet, modern, and jazz, Motion X movers are technically sound, while athletic and dynamic in their artistic expression through movement.
MXDC X Factor Movement Principles:
Connectivity - The importance of transition to seamlessly connect steps
Perpetual Breath - The never-ending use of breath to keep energy flowing through movements
Expression - An ability to tell a story or evoke a certain emotional response
Intention - Each movement comes from an intended place
Dynamic Release - Removing tension as a means of connecting further with the ground to then return to a place of control and strength
MXDC X Factor Movement Principles:
Connectivity - The importance of transition to seamlessly connect steps
Perpetual Breath - The never-ending use of breath to keep energy flowing through movements
Expression - An ability to tell a story or evoke a certain emotional response
Intention - Each movement comes from an intended place
Dynamic Release - Removing tension as a means of connecting further with the ground to then return to a place of control and strength
Past Events:
2018
- Mid-Atlantic Choreographer's Showcase (Richmond, VA)
- Capital Movement presents, CommUNITY Showcase (Silver Spring, MD)
- Breaking Barriers at Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival (Washington DC)
- Joy of Motion Dance Center presents, SPLIT with Uprooted Dance (Jack Guidone Theater, Washington DC)
- Children's National Medical Center: Outreach performance (Washington DC)
- ProMotion X: A fundraiser to ensure artist compensation (Metropolitan School of the Arts, Alexandria, VA)
- DC Dance Summit, Hosted by Dance Metro DC at the Dance Loft on 14
- Three to See: Artists Collaboration Project, Hosted by Motion X featuring Company Danzante & Donald Knaack (The Junkman)
- Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival: Concrete Devotion with Other Works
2016
- TEDx Herndon: performed an excerpt of Altered Archives
- The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: Presented on Millennium Stage
- Capital Fringe Festival: Concrete Devotion
- The One I Feed Dance Benefit: performed an excerpt of Concrete Devotion
- Atlas Intersections Festival: Altered Archives
- DANCE: DC Area New Companies Experience, performed Concrete Devotion
2015
- Capital Fringe Festival: Altered Archives Premiere
- TEDx Herndon: performed Anamnesis & Catch
- Atlas Intersections Festival: Commissioned site specific work, Two People Met
2014
- NYC10 Dance Showcase: performed Catch (New York City, NY)
- Joy of Motion Dance Project: Released