Bonnie Slawson

Artistic Director

(Jazz, Children’s Program)

Bonnie Slawson began dancing at the tender age of two, when her unbridled energy prompted her parents to enroll her in dance classes in an attempt to tire her out.  They didn’t succeed at that, but they did create a lifelong love of dance in their daughter that would culminate in her creation of MMDT.

Born in New York City, Bonnie traveled extensively as a child and grew up in cities all over the country.  Traveling gave her the unique opportunity to study form a wide variety of teachers and expanded her horizons, allowing her to experiment with movement and styles.  She has studied up and down the East Coast with master teachers like Phil Black and Frank Hatchett in New York City, and Hsimon Braun from Philadelphia based, WAVES.

After graduation with Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from Mercyhurst College, Bonnie was invited to teach and choreograph for a number of colleges including Stephens College, Perry-Mansfield and Dickinson College.  Always in search of a character to portray, Bonnie performed in Summer Stock Theatre and was dance captain for Equity Theatre productions such as The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.  She danced for A&M Records in MTV videos and choreographed a number of fashion videos while teaching in L.A.

 In 1985, Bonnie came to Washington, DC where she danced with numerous companies and continued to choreograph and teach.  That year, she was chosen as a “Critic’s Pick” by The Washington Post for her tap choreography in “Bonzai Goes to Harlem.”  Recognizing the need for a powerful, contemporary jazz company, Bonnie created Motion Mania Dance Theatre.

Bonnie has been a dance faculty member at a number of companies and universities around the country, including Penn State,Katherine Knapp Dance Studio in California, Elizabethtown College and Dickinson College.  Her roster of Master Classes includes offerings at Crickets Performing Arts Center, Georgetown Day School and Sandy Spring Friends School.  With MMDT she has performed for the Corcoran Gallery of Art, AT&T and the Tap and Jazz Festival in Arlington, VA, among others.

Today, Bonnie remains committed to dance education and appreciation.  She has been honored to be a part of the National Dance Institute’s Washington residency for several years and received the Governor's School for Visual and Performing Arts Outstanding Educator Award in July 2006.  Bonnie continues to be recognized for her outstanding contributions and commitment to education.