Movement Heals, is a workshop that was born after my adventure through breast cancer in 2010. My company, moe-tion dance theater, and I, were in the process of creating a new work when I broke the news. We all cried together, hugged it out and then continued creating our work which I titled, Cope. I asked each dancer to create gestures that related to feeling hurt. Each person’s gestures were real to them. We must cope with many things in our lives, but we push through and follow our own paths. This movement workshop will consist of a gentle warm-up and then develop into a class using gestures, words, and movement, exploring one’s thoughts, feelings, and emotions. I am committed to helping others find strength through my love of dance and truly believe that through movement, healing happens. No previous dance experience is required. Wear comfortable clothing.
Presenter: Maureen Glennon Clayton
Maureen Glennon Clayton is the Founder & Artistic Director of moe-tion dance theater, a New Jersey based modern dance theater company. She is also Co-Founder of Outside the Lines, a site-specific dance series and Founder of Intermix ~ A Choreography Showcase. Maureen holds a full-time teaching position for the Gifted & Talented Honors Dance Program at Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School in Bridgewater, New Jersey. She has previously been on faculty at College of Morris, where she earned her AS in Recreation & Leisure/Dance and Montclair State University, where she earned her BFA in Dance. In December 2022, Maureen graduated from the University of Northern Colorado where she received her MA in Dance Education. She and her company are current members of Dance New Jersey, where Maureen served on the board for over ten years and are also members of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO). In 2023 Maureen received her 200-hour Mindfulness, Social & Emotional Learning (SEL), and Yoga Teacher Certification through Breathe for Change. This past summer, July 2024, Maureen was invited and was thrilled to teach her workshop, Movement Heals, at the Bill Evan’s 10th Annual Somatic Dance & Movement Conference/Northwest in Port Townsend, Washington. Maureen is a proud founding board member of WINGS, and is always so happy to come back!