summerworks

August 2nd, 2025

2:30 PM & 6:00 PM

Join The Movement Project for the return of our annual SummerWorks 2025 on August 2nd at the Sandefur Theatre at The University of Akron and Rubber City Theatre! The program will feature new works by The Movement Project and special guest performances by our 2025 summer intensive artists and Cleveland based company Ajayi Dance!

Performance DETAILS

Date: Saturday, August 2nd, 2025

Times:

  • Show 1 - 2:30 pm

    • Box Office & Theater Doors open at 1:45 pm

  • Show 2 - 6:00 pm

    • Box Office & Theater Doors open at 5:15 pm

Price:

  • $20 (General Admission)

  • $16 (Students with ID or Seniors 62+)

  • $10 (Children 12 & under)

    • Online presale ends Friday August 1st at 8:00 pm. (If seats are available, box office times are listed above for door sales.)

    • All sales are final. No-refunds or exchanges are permitted.

Location: (Guzzetta Hall) 228 E Buchtel Ave, Akron, OH 44325

  • Sandefur Theatre is located in Guzzetta Hall.

    • For Google maps directions, use Guzzetta Hall, Akron OH 44325. Entrance to Guzzetta Hall Center for Dance and Theatre is on Buchtel Ave., there is a ½ circle drive in front. (SEE SIGNS FOR TMP’S SUMMERWORKS)

    • Upon entering the building follow SummerWorks signs to theater lobby

Parking: Surrounding parking lots (pay via app, see posted sign) & garages available (pay rate posted at lot).

TICKET SALES LIve June 2nd!

Guzzetta Hall - Sandefur theatre

Meet the company

The movement project

Artistic Director

Megan L. Gargano

Associate Director

Elyse Morckel

Operations coordinator

Liz Conway

Company Members

Emmaline Devore, Madison Burris

Seasonal Company Members

Robyn Noelani, Makayla Ulery

Company Bio

THE MOVEMENT PROJECT was founded in 2009 by Megan Gargano (she/her) and Rebecca Leuszler (she/her) with goals to support professional dance in Cleveland. Through the years, TMP has grown their efforts to support artists throughout NE Ohio, specifically the communities of Cleveland and Akron. In 2013 TMP launched its first full season of performances and has since then produced over 35 evening-length concerts, has created over 60 new works, produced 6 original dance films, and has performed at various venues such as Cleveland Public Theatre, The Breen Center, Dumbo Dance Fest in NYC, Baldwin Wallace University, Ohio University and Transformer Station. In 2019, TMP collaborated, performed and produced a sold-out concert with Pam Tanowitz and her NYC company Pam Tanowitz Dance.

In 2013 and 2016, TMP was awarded The Fedora Award, a grant for individuals and organizations that focus on positively helping communities of Northeast Ohio. And in 2017 TMP was awarded funds by Puffin West Foundation to further support TMP's annual summer intensive, a 1-week summer intensive focused on providing affordable and accessible dance education to youth dancers. In 2015, TMP launched the Cleveland Artist Initiative, a program designed to support and fund the creation of new work by Cleveland artists. Over 51% of TMP's operating budget was dedicated to paying artists and in 2022 TMP collaborated with over 150 artists and organizations throughout the year. In 2016, TMP launched Cleveland Dance Fest, an annual dance festival featuring Cleveland choreographers and is hosted each year in Cleveland. TMP Co-artistic director Rebecca Leuszler was awarded the 2016 Creative Workforce Fellowship funded by Community Partnership for Arts & Culture and Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) to produce the first festival. In 2019, 2021 & 2022, TMP was awarded funds by CAC to continue growing the festival, as well as in 2020 by Ohio Arts Council. Since its inaugural year, over $54,500 has gone towards paying artists.

In addition to our programming in Cleveland, TMP has worked to provide resources to artists, families, and youth throughout the communities of Akron. TMP is committed to fostering the next generation of Akron artists through the development of sustainable and equitable practices for dance professionals. TMP's outreach programs have included The Akron Art Museum, Miller South School for Visual & Performing Arts, The University of Akron, and our annual year long residency at Firestone CLC. In 2023, TMP officially became a proud Pathway Partner with the College & Career Academies of Akron through Akron Public Schools. 2024 marked TMP’s first annual CDF | Akron Concert Series.

Fall of 2017 TMP launched The Movement Project School of Dance for youth 2.5-18 years old, serving the neighborhoods of Cleveland. In 2022, company member Elyse Morckel was promoted to Associate Director, expanding upon her already strong commitment to community building throughout the Akron and Cleveland communities. January 2022, TMP moved its operations to Cleveland’s westside community of Fairview Park where they offer year-round weekly professional classes, summer intensives, company rehearsals, festivals and performances.