Knowing
that since that dawn of civilization, humans have engaged in the
performing arts to heal from physical and psychological ailments,
to gain understanding about the human condition, to knit community
bonds, and to share in ritual, Motion offers theatrical performances
which address issues of immediate relevance to people throughout
the world.
Understanding
that creative self-expression is essential to the physical, psychological
and spiritual well-being of individuals and societies, Motion offers
training in creative methodologies for people from all walks of
life.
Motion is committed
to the resuscitation of the craft of living culture in three primary
ways:
- Presenting
original performance works that directly address the issues of
contemporary life.
- Providing
workshops in improvisation and the creation of original performance
art.
- Providing
workshops to specific populations in need including those suffering
from life threatening illnesses and caregivers.
Motion was founded in 1971 by performance artists Joya Cory, Suzanne Hellmuth and Michelle Coxon interested in creating multi-disciplinary works. Nina Wise joined the troupe in 1972 and in 1987 became Artistic Director. Motion has created a broad range of performances produced
in some of the most prestigious avant-garde venues in the country
including the Magic Theater, New Langton Arts, Highways, Theater
for a New City, Headlands Center for the Arts, Intersection, The
Marsh,the SF Museum of Modern Art. In addition, Motion has produced
work in prisons, parks, living rooms, and for international conferences
and think-tanks. Motion has given performances in Czechoslovakia,
Ireland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Russia, Thailand,
India, and Nepal.
Motion
performances address social and spiritual issues: death and dying;
the devastation of the environment; family relations; the effect
of intergenerational trauma; the effect of public and private lies;
the intergenerational impact of war. Motion’s pieces have garnered
seven Bay Area Critics’ Circle Awards, multiple fellowships
from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Marin Arts Council.
Videos of Motion’s work have been broadcast in California and
New York, and several stories derived from performance works have
been published in contemporary journals.
Believing
that singing, dancing, storytelling, meditation, ritual, and spontaneous
self-expression, enhance well-being, Motion has been offering
workshops in performance art since the company’s inception.
Ongoing classes
are offered at various locations in the Bay Area. Motion has also
offered workshops at San Francisco State University, the California
Institute for Women, the SF County Jail, the Open Center in New
York, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Wongsanit Ashram (a center
for social activism) Thailand, the Peace Center in Zagreb, and
at three consecutive international theater festivals in Brazil.
Understanding
that self-expression and contemplative practice can strengthen the
immune system, deepen communication in relationships, create avenues
of communication with the subconscious and so aid in healing, and
enhance feelings of well being, Motion offers special courses for
people with life threatening illnesses, their loved ones, and caregivers.
Giving
Motion supports
its programs through earned income from workshops, sales of video
and audio products, government and foundation grants, and the
generous support of individuals. In the past we have received
funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the California
Arts Council, the San Francisco Foundation, the Marin Community
Foundation, the Society for Experiments in Contemporary Art, the
Roy Hunt Family Foundation, and the Zellerbach Family Fund.
Donations
may be sent to Motion, 250 C Street, San Rafael, CA 94901; and
are tax deductible to the extent allowed by the law. We are very
grateful for your support.
