About the Company:
Photo Credit: Lindsay Benson Garrett
Motion X Dance DC (Motion X) is a contemporary dance company based in the Washington DC area. Stephanie Dorrycott founded the company in 2013 with the goal of creating a contemporary modern repertory company that supports the individuality and artistic development of dancers. Motion X is passionate about creating relatable dance pieces that reflect on the human experience, while seeking to attract new audiences for dance. 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 working 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.
Motion X 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, Washington City Paper, and The Dance Journalism Project. In addition, the company has also appeared as part of TEDx Herndon and has performed at The John F. Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. They have been presented at Charlotte Dance Festival, the Richmond Choreographer’s Showcase, and most recently at the 36th Annual Choreographer’s Showcase at the University of Maryland. Motion X Dance DC is a resident company of Joy of Motion Dance Center.
Motion X Dance DC: The X Factor
Photo Credit: Laura Mann
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. The movement style can be referred to as "dynamic release" and is grounded in roots of classical modern, ballet, and jazz. Motion X movers are technically sound, but have the ability to seamlessly connect movements together using breath, gravity, and momentum. The Motion X dancer's movements appear effortless, but offer clear intention with technical 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
Release - Removing tension in the muscles when necessary for an ease of movement
Dig - The term "dig" refers to deepening plie' through transitions, while using gravity for a controlled and weighted movement quality
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
Release - Removing tension in the muscles when necessary for an ease of movement
Dig - The term "dig" refers to deepening plie' through transitions, while using gravity for a controlled and weighted movement quality
Past Performances & Events:
2019
- 36th Annual Choreographer's Showcase, Turning Point (College Park, MD)
- Charlotte Dance Festival, Comme je Suis (Charlotte, NC)
- SPRING | 4, Motion X Dance DC Resident Company Performance (Washington, DC)
- Mid-Atlantic Choreographer's Showcase, Comme je Suis (Richmond, VA)
- Capital Movement presents, CommUNITY Showcase, Comme je Suis (Silver Spring, MD)
- Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival: Breaking Barriers (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, Concrete Devotion excerpt
- 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