about
Founded in 2007, MAWU is an all-female crew and dance company whose mission is to embody strong, positive images of women in the urban dance community, and to create fierce and creative works that will both educate and inspire new audiences. Furthermore, the company seeks to preserve the rich cultural heritage of house music both in New York City and around the world, to provide more creative outlets for women, and to foster and help build positive relationships among fellow dancers. The ladies of MAWU are Chriz, Ephrat (Bounce), Jimbo, Linda (LaNaija), RhoDesia, Amy Secada, Tara (Big Tara) and Tine (Tine Machine). The group was born out of New York's underground house community. More than just a unique group of house dancers, MAWU's strength lies in the diversity of its members, all of whom represent different backgrounds, ethnicities and performance genres including house, hip hop, freestyle, modern, ballet, African and jazz. Through their explosive performances, MAWU creates a platform for dancers of all ages, races, and genders to celebrate diversity, fight for the rights of dancers, and show support for performing arts.
Since their debut at New York's monthly House Dance Conference hosted by Brian "Footwork" Green, MAWU has made special appearances at The Melting Pot NYC, the annual Winter Music Conference in Miami, ¡Globaile!, Dance For Peace, Brooklyn Mecca's Female All-Stars Jam and Dance Showcase, Mr. V’s Welcome Home Album Release at Virgin Megastore, and House Dance International, New York's 1st annual house dance festival. In June of 2008 MAWU organized Circle Hog Fest—an event jam-packed with music, performances, and good vibes—in celebration of their 1-year anniversary.
Since then, the group has presented original work at Alvin Ailey, Dixon Place, Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, Jamaica Performing Arts Center, SummerStage, and Red Hook Fest, and they have performed at Step Ya Game
Up, Mop Top's Anniversary Reunion, BAAD!Ass Women and the Boogie Down Dance Series at the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, Hip Hop Generation Next in partnership with Dancing in the Streets, the Afrobeat Festival with Wunmi, Fertile Ground and Asiko. MAWU performs and teaches around the US as well as globally, and they continue to take this scene by storm one dance floor at a time. MAWU received the 2016 NYC Dance Awards ‘Crew of the Year’ award and recently celebrated their 10th anniversary.
*** MAWU does not hold auditions for dancers. Members are personally invited to join the crew based on their positive energy, their artistic integrity, their individual talents, and their ability to embody MAWU's mission, to inspire, empower, and represent the crew to the fullest.***
“I saw MAWU perform a couple of years ago at Hip Hop Generation Next and was completely drawn in by their radiance, soulfulness, and the impression that they were genuinely having a good time together.”
– Siobhan Burke, Dance Magazine