PRESS RELEASE: Joy of Motion announces seasoning-opening concert, “Premiere,” featuring seven new works

September 10, 2018

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Contact: Joy of Motion Dance Center
Phone: 202-907-5113
press@joyofmotion.org

Street Address:
Joy of Motion | Friendship Heights
5207 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20015
www.joyofmotion.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Joy of Motion Dance Center announces seasoning-opening concert, “Premiere,” featuring seven new works

Washington, DC: Joy of Motion Dance Center will launch its 42nd year in the District with an evening of new choreography at the Jack Guidone Theater on September 22 and 23. This dynamic concert event (“Premiere”) will feature tap, modern, hip hop, and contemporary works, created by Joy of Motion’s faculty and Resident Companies.

September’s concert will showcase:

  • Contemporary piece featuring partnering and interplay between dancers and light (choreographer: Stephanie Dorrycott, representing Joy of Motion Resident Company MotionX Dance DC)
  • Contemporary piece performed by dance majors from Howard University (choreographer: Jocelyn Isaacs)
  • Hip hop piece centered on the question, “Where is the real America?” (choreographer: Jasmine Andrews)
  • Modern piece exploring the journey through parenthood (choreographer: Lauren Borchard; new music: DoubleSpeak)
  • Modern piece visualizing Handel’s Messiah (choreographer: Tiffany Haughn)
  • Solo excerpt from a multidisciplinary piece (choreographer: Keira Hart-Mendoza, representing Joy of Motion Resident Company UpRooted Dance)

Reflecting Joy of Motion’s wide-ranging programmatic offerings, this concert will highlight a range of styles and artists, all of whom live and work in the DC region. The participating artists were given no specific parameters, other than to craft original work — so “Premiere” is an inimitable opportunity to experiment and stretch choreographically.

Director of Production Sarah Chapin says, “These works are deeply considered explorations from some of the area’s best dance artists. Premiere is also an opportunity for our students to see our faculty onstage in one place and for the general public to experience the depth and variety of choreography in our region.”

“Premiere” is funded in part by the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

ABOUT JOY OF MOTION:

A non-profit charitable organization founded in 1976, Joy of Motion Dance Center has since developed into “the area’s most comprehensive dance institution” (Washington Post), engaging 60 faculty members and teaching artists, providing more than 300 weekly classes, and drawing nearly 9,000 unique students and artists annually to three studio locations (in two Wards of DC and in Bethesda, MD). With more than 40 years of history in the District, Joy of Motion has become the hub of a vast artistic community, committed to excellence both in high-level training and community-based arts experiences.

Our Mission: to unite dance professionals, students, and audiences by providing exceptional education and performances that stimulate a universal love of dance.

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