Joanna Lees and Kristin Howe co-founded Minneapolis dance company, Alternative Motion Project in 2011. Joanna serves as its Executive and Co-Artistic Director.
Alternative Motion Project (AMP) is a professional dance company passionately striving to create accessible, entertaining, and meaningful dance work throughout the Twin Cities area. Driven by the creative process, AMP gives an alternative dance performance experience to both audience and performer alike by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. AMP increases communications between performer and audience member through an array of materials and discussions. AMP also encourages its company members to continually grow in their levels of training through quality dance performance of the choreography by its founders as well as collaborations by other up-and-coming artists. Committed to increasing dance exposure and education for people of all artistic backgrounds, AMP provides workshops, residencies, and performances based on the community’s specific needs.
AMP’s mission is built on three tiers of outreach, audience engagement and cultivating artists:
ACCESS for Students
MEANINGFUL for Audiences
PERFORMANCES for Artists
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO MOVE BIG?
Move BIG is more than a tagline- it is AMP's philosophy. Move BIG means more than the large and virtuosic movement that Howe and Lees have been known for. Move BIG is advancing the art form of dance in any way we can. Whether it is through our choreography and performances, collaborations with other artists, engaging audience members, or education and exposure to those in need, we can come together as a community and acknowledge that we serve a purpose that is greater than ourselves.
ACCESS
MEANINGFUL
PERFORMANCES