The Movement Project

A modern dance company & school serving the communities of greater Cleveland and Akron.

21547 Lorain Road, Fairview Park, Ohio 44126

our mission

The Movement Project’s mission is to challenge perspectives, evoke social change and bridge communities through the power of movement.

TMP redefines the status quo and questions predetermined notions of what should be. We do so by creating thought provoking work, providing affordable and accessible dance education and performance to all communities, making space for dance and providing programming that supports the needs of today’s local artists.

July 2015, TMP received their 501 c (3) status and is looking forward to growing their efforts in unifying the communities of Cleveland and Akron, as well as supporting artists who call northeast Ohio their home.

Artistic Statement

Dance making is our form of expression and communication. Our goal is to foster conceptual, intellectual, and innovative thinking, as well as to spark the imagination and creativity of our audience. Through our art, we evoke social awareness and community responsibility. To advance the art of dance making, we push boundaries by rejecting the predetermined notion of what dancers should look like, dance like, and what they ought to be capable of doing.

We are inspired by the need and obligation to share and move others through our work, asking all involved to question thinking and challenge perspectives. Our work represents ideas and themes that can be interpreted in multiple ways, weaving connections with each audience member. Our work is significant because it challenges the viewer to be active in thought and action. It confronts the norm. It is relatable, self-reflecting, and it exposes truths.

The human body and mind is the form and medium through which our work is shared. We use imagery, emotions, and human experiences to construct movement that represents specific concepts and themes exploring space, effort, time, quality, and energy. We believe in "doing", not "showing." We are interested in making movement that is real, tangible and "in the moment". Our work is made of us, it is made of all the artists involved, it is made of life experiences, and most significantly it is made of the observer.

About the company

THE MOVEMENT PROJECT was founded in 2009 by Megan Gargano (she/her) and Rebecca Leuszler (she/her) with goals to support professional dance in Cleveland. Through the years, TMP has grown their efforts to support artists throughout NE Ohio, specifically the communities of Cleveland and Akron. In 2013 TMP launched its first full season of performances and has since then produced over 35 evening-length concerts, has created over 60 new works, produced 6 original dance films, and has performed at various venues such as Cleveland Public Theatre, The Breen Center, Dumbo Dance Fest in NYC, Baldwin Wallace University, Ohio University and Transformer Station. In 2019, TMP collaborated, performed and produced a sold-out concert with Pam Tanowitz and her NYC company Pam Tanowitz Dance.

In 2013 and 2016, TMP was awarded The Fedora Award, a grant for individuals and organizations that focus on positively helping communities of Northeast Ohio. And in 2017 TMP was awarded funds by Puffin West Foundation to further support TMP's annual summer intensive, a 1-week summer intensive focused on providing affordable and accessible dance education to youth dancers. In 2015, TMP launched the Cleveland Artist Initiative, a program designed to support and fund the creation of new work by Cleveland artists. Over 51% of TMP's operating budget was dedicated to paying artists and in 2022 TMP collaborated with over 150 artists and organizations throughout the year. In 2016, TMP launched Cleveland Dance Fest, an annual dance festival featuring Cleveland choreographers and is hosted each year in Cleveland. TMP Co-artistic director Rebecca Leuszler was awarded the 2016 Creative Workforce Fellowship funded by Community Partnership for Arts & Culture and Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) to produce the first festival. In 2019, 2021 & 2022, TMP was awarded funds by CAC to continue growing the festival, as well as in 2020 by Ohio Arts Council. Since its inaugural year, over $43,500 has gone towards paying artists.

In addition to our programming in Cleveland, TMP has worked to provide resources to artists, families, and youth throughout the communities of Akron. TMP's outreach programs have included The Akron Art Museum, Miller South School for Visual & Performing Arts, The University of Akron, and our annual year long residency at Firestone CLC. In 2023, TMP officially became a proud Pathway Partner with the College & Career Academies of Akron through Akron Public Schools.

Fall of 2017 TMP launched The Movement Project School of Dance for youth 2.5-18 years old, serving the neighborhoods of Cleveland. In 2022, company member Elyse Morckel was promoted to Associate Director, expanding upon her already strong commitment to community building throughout the Akron and Cleveland communities. January 2022, TMP moved its operations to Cleveland’s westside community of Fairview Park where we offer year-round weekly professional classes, summer intensives, company rehearsals, festivals and performances.