ABOUT
MOTION THEATRE Dance Company is dedicated to the creation and presentation of high quality dance / theatre works and educational programs. MTDC presents contemporary modern and ballet, dance - theatre, historical dance, and sacred concert dance repertoire for festivals, site specific events and the concert stage. Company members and guest artists are encouraged to choreograph on the company and collaborate with composers, directors, and artists from other mediums on various projects. The artists and company members teach classes to foster professionalism in Santa Barbara and the surrounding communities and offer master classes. MTDC provides instruction and presents dance for children and teens in grades K– 12.
Maria Rendina, artistic director
Maria Rendina Frantz is the Artistic Director of the Motion Theatre Dance Company and has created over thirty five concert dances for the stage, many which have been produced in NYC. She currently teaches, choreographs and performs throughout the country as a guest artist. Ms. Rendina has taught dance at Columbia University, Santa Barbara City College, Carlow College, Allegheny Community College and Community College of Santa Fe. Her teaching method is based in the yogic methodology of Martha Graham and Erick Hawkins techniques. Her first group Maria Rendina Performance Company premiered a full-length, original, dance/play in 1983 at the Merce Cunningham Dance Studio. Since then her work has been presented at the Avignon Arts Festival in France, Los Angeles, Berkley, Santa Barbara, Washington, D.C., Maine, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania. Maria danced professionally with Dance June Lewis & Company in NYC and at the Three Rivers Arts Festival with Dan Wagoner. She has also danced in works by Judith Leifer, Erick Hawkins, Twyla Tharp, Doug Varone and many others. Maria had the honor od studying choreography with master teachers; Leonide Massine, Bessie Schonberg, Pearl Lang, Erick Hawkins and June Lewis. In 1977 she earned a B.A. in dance at Point Park University. Rendina was classically trained in Vaganova ballet technique and studied modern dance extensively with the Martha Graham Dance Company, Erick Hawkins Dance Company, Dan Wagoner Dance Company, Dance June Lewis Company and the Twyla Tharp Dance Company. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Dance and Dance Education with a focus on choreography from Columbia University in 1987. She resides in Santa Barbara with her husband and three teenagers.
Modern Dance in Santa Barbara, CA
Contemporary Dance in Santa Barbara, CA
Jazz Dance in Santa Barbara, CA
Tap Dance in Santa Barbara, CA
Kids Dance in Santa Barbara, CA
Ballet for Kids in Santa Barbara, CA