Dawson’s intrinsic motion project first premiered in 2014. Referring to the inherent impulses that generate and guide movement, intrinsic motion project investigates the connection between initial acts of locomotion and the physical result of those preliminary gestures. Letting the dancers’ natural drives be a significant determiner of the choreography, Dawson creates a work that is guided by the body’s intrinsic understanding of motion.


Founder and Artistic Director
Gregory P. Dawson, former LINES Ballet dancer, received his BA from Saint Mary’s College. In 2007 he formed daswondancesf as an outlet for his choreographic goals and vision. Shortly thereafter, he created which light in the
sky is us for Company C Contemporary Ballet (nominated for an Isadora Duncan Dance Award for choreography) and became the assistant director of the California State Summer School of the Arts’ Dance Department in Southern California.
In fall 2011, Dawson became artistic director of Dawson Wallace Dance Project in Denver (formerly David Taylor Dance); the Denver Post named him “the best choreographer in Denver.” Soon after, he received a CHIME grant, partnering him with choreographic mentor Elizabeth Streb for one year. In September 2013 dawsondancesf reestablished its presence in San Francisco with the world premiere of fabbrica materasso d’argento at Zaccho Dance Theatre. Following this, he created bird’s eye view (a collaboration with the Richard Howell Quintet) for the 2014 Black Choreographers Festival, which received an Isadora Duncan Dance Award. dawsondancesf presented MONOCHROME at the BAN7 Festival 2014 in San Francisco. In fall 2014, Dawson premiered in this moment with Richard Howell. The Zellerbach Foundation funded dawsondancesf’s next premiere, intrinsic motion project, and this past summer 2015 the company completed its fifth week long residency at CSSSA’s summer intensive at CalArts, where Dawson is assistant to the chair. In spring 2015 dawsondancesf premiered Intima, produced by Al’myra Communication and a collaboration with Ali Kaf (visuals) and Ashraf Kateb (music).
dawsondancesf made its New York debut in fall 2014 at Baruch College, returning September 25–27, 2015, and made it’s premiere at YBCA in 2017 with Les Verites. Additionally, Dawson has created commissions for Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance, the University of Kansas City Dance Department, Boston Conservatory and Menlowe Ballet. He currently teaches and choreographs for all the LINES Ballet educational programs.

"Dawson works in the contemporary ballet idiom, characterized by balletic grammar mixed with lissome spines, thrusting rib cages and swerving limbs. Dawson has a snappy vibe, and his confident choreography is at its best when showing off the speedy athleticism and muscularity of his six dancers
-Mary Ellen Hunt-