FOUNDER
Maggie is an emerging, visionary choreographer with boundless creativity and a profound understanding of movement. Drawing inspiration from a myriad of influences, she seeks to fuse technique with innovative movements that challenge the status quo. She approaches every project with an unwavering commitment to excellence. As a choreographer, DeFrees creates work that challenges the mind and body, getting the most inspiration from her integrative arts. It is important to her that the audience can take something away from an experience with her work. Her choreographic highlights include the founding of MA.DE Dance Collective as well as Kinetic Canvas: Da Vinci in the Summer of 2023. DeFrees thrives on interdisciplinary collaboration and aims to further cultivate her passion for dance performance and enhanced production value. She has presented work in the DMV area and hopes to broaden her reach in the coming years.
Maggie DeFrees is an interdisciplinary artist in whose art is influenced by movement. She embarked on her dance journey at the age of three and honed her skills through years of dedicated training in various dance styles. Her versatility shines through her performances as she seamlessly transitions between ballet, contemporary, jazz, and other genres. She graduated from Shenandoah University with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design and Production (Scenic Design) in May of 2023. While at Shenandoah, DeFrees is grateful to have worked with so many amazing artists, both faculty and peers, who inspire her to be the artist she is. This balance of both artistic interests opened the door to endless possibilities in the world of live performance.
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In the past few years, DeFrees had the opportunity to perform works by Roderick George, Danielle Sten-Guillermo, Kim Fields, Daniel Padierna, Tiffanie Carson, Maurice Fraga, Charlie Maybee, and Ting-Yu Chen. Her highlight includes being cast as a soloist in a re-staging of Ballet Hispanico's Batucada Fantastica. Student productions, like Senior Dance Concerts and Group Composition classes, also proved an amazing performance opportunity and were a favorite of hers while in school.
While at SU, DeFrees took advantage of many leadership opportunities including Conservatory Student Council President, Sigma Rho Delta President, dance class representative, and the ShenCoLAB task force. She is an advocate for supporting fellow artists and creating an environment that feels safe and inviting for collaboration. She worked closely with Deans and administration to support the student body and better the school as a whole. She is thankful for these skills and brings them into all of her work. Beyond the stage, Maggie is deeply passionate about sharing the art of dance with others. She is actively looking for opportunities to engage with the dance community through masterclasses and workshops to inspire aspiring dancers and nurture the next generation of talent. It is important to her that she is able to connect with students on a personal level, guiding them to unlock their own potential.
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As Maggie continues to evolve as an artist, she remains committed to breaking barriers and redefining the values of dance production. Her goal as a designer is to weave together tapestries of emotion, movement, music, lighting, and set design in new and innovative ways as she sets forth to create her niche in the world of dance production. Collaboration lies at the heart of DeFrees’ process. She believes that the right team of choreographers, designers, composers, technical experts, and dancers will foster an environment of synergy and mutual inspiration. By nurturing an atmosphere that encourages artistic exploration and risk-taking, one can empower collaborators to push the boundaries of their own creativity when approaching a new project.
Her combination of interests led to the creation of MA.DE Dance Collective. MA.DE Dance Collective made its debut in the Spring of 2023 with the inaugural performance of MA.DE in Color, a project that explores color theory and how designers/choreographers use color to enhance their message. MA.DE Dance Collective is a home for interdisciplinary arts and promotes an environment of collaboration, creativity, and exploration. Company members and collaborators identify as interdisciplinary artists and are eager to investigate new ways of moving and producing work. The work that MA.DE Dance Collective presents is heavily based on research and exploration and should challenge any preconceived ideas of what dance is and can be. MA.DE Dance Collective promotes interdisciplinary art by pushing the boundaries of production value in concert dance and challenging our perceptions of what is possible. You never quite know what to expect when experiencing MA.DE.
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With a fusion of grace, precision, and passion, Maggie has an energetic presence as an upcoming artist. Her unwavering commitment to her craft and innate desire to break stereotypical barriers fuel every artistic project. Fueled by a lifelong passion for dance, Maggie is on a transformative journey of artistic exploration. Her disciplined work ethic and relentless pursuit of authenticity have garnered her numerous accolades and recognition within the dance community. She continuously seeks opportunities to collaborate with other choreographers, artists, and innovative production teams to push the boundaries of her own artistic direction.
