Moving Forward
Communal ⎜Dynamic ⎜Bold ⎜Relevant ⎜Innovative
Our Mission
Moving Forward Dance (MFD) supports artists through educational programs and creative opportunities. By providing workshops, performances, and participating in choreography festivals, we provide early career artists with transformative artistic experiences by prioritizing one-on-one mentorship, career development seminars, and conservatory training with experienced choreographers in the field. The organization is structured into three branches: Education, Emerging Artist, and The Collective. The Education program offers accessible training for artists ages 15 and up, fostering technical and creative development. The Emerging Artist program provides choreographic opportunities such as festivals and commissions to support up-and-coming dance makers. The Collective is a project-based professional company that presents original works by Artistic Director Madison Hicks and her collaborators.
MFD cultivates safe, nurturing environments through improvisation and creative workshops, enabling artists to develop their artistic voice and mental agility along with their physicality. We believe that preparing an artist for a sustainable career in dance extends far beyond technical training, requiring a holistic approach that fosters both creative and professional growth. Through this mission, MFD encourages artists to take bold risks, challenging conventional boundaries and expanding their perspectives inside and outside the studio. Looking ahead, we aim to broaden our mentorship opportunities and resources, equipping artists with expanded guidance to navigate the complexities of pre-professional and professional dance journeys.
Core Values
Giving students a lens into the professional dance experience.
Nurturing creative minds and artistic voices
Presenting new work by Madi Hicks and other emerging choreographers
Providing an open and welcoming environment for students to feel comfortable to push their physical, emotional, and mental abilities.
Removing the idea of student/teacher absolute
Mentoring and forging lasting bonds with students.
Testimonials
“Moving Forward was such a refreshing way to start my year. I am so thankful for the safe, creative, compassionate environment, as it allowed me to fully delve into the work presented to me. Oftentimes I have trouble feeling comfortable in new environments and around new people, but this was definitely not the case with Moving Forward. This workshop allowed me to exercise both my body and my mind, and I left the three days feeling much more conscious and comfortable in my art. Thank you so much to Madi and Kevin for running such a great program and for caring so much about the students. Can’t wait for the next one!” -Rachel Bozalis
"Moving forward continues to be one of my favorite spaces that brings artists together to celebrate and workshop movement in a safe and collaborative environment. I am forever grateful for my time spent learning and growing at these events and for the beautiful studios and all the people that fill it. Madi and Kevin have created an amazing event that has been a highlight in my training. These workshops have been so beneficial for my growth and I take away so many new ideas from every event. I strongly recommend to anyone seeking advancement and expansion upon their vocabulary and knowledge of movement to participate in this incredible program!"
-Emma Weiss
"Whenever I come back home from school, I feel really lucky that I have the ability to participate in something like Moving Forward. Not only does it keep me very active, but it also fosters reflection and investigations. I get to further dive into old ideas, and learn new ones. Troy Ogilvie’s class was such an awakening for me. Certain things I had been struggling with were presented in a way that truly expanded my perspectives! Thank you Moving Forward for bringing in Troy and all of the incredible movers and educators to teach us in the DFW community."
-Eleni loving
