The Ipswich Moving Company led by founder and choreographer, Janet Taisey Craft makes its home in a renovated barn in Ipswich across from the Town Wharf.
For over twenty years, the Ipswich Moving Company (a professional modern dance company) and the Ipswich Moving Company Studio (an educational center for dance, yoga, and Pilates) have contributed to the artistic life of Ipswich and the North Shore community. In 1980, the Company and the Studio were incorporated as The Ipswich Dance Foundation, Inc as a non-profit, tax-exempt arts organization. During the summer of 2003, the Studio underwent a major renovation of its facilities to better meet the needs of the School, Company and the community. The Studio now boasts a fully equipped performance/studio space, a Pilates Studio, and a beautifully renovated entrance and foyer. The spacious studio/barn has sprung maple dance floors, walled mirrors and wonderful natural light.

The Ipswich Moving Company has offered professional modern dance performances in theatres, schools, outdoor spaces and galleries throughout New England. The Company performed at the internationally famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival for two summers in 2000 and 2001. Their Aerial Dance Theatre production was aired on British Cable TV, produced on the www.worldart.com webcast and presented in the Boston Center for the Art’s 2002 Spotlight on Dance Series. The Company participated in the Massachusetts Educational Collaborative for ten years, offering artist-in-residencies in public and private schools throughout the north shore area. The Company has an ambitious 2005-2006 season of performances and workshops with exciting new collaborations in dance, visual arts, and music.

The Ipswich Moving Company Studio is a dance, yoga, and Pilates educational center offering classes and workshops throughout the year for children and adults. Movement and Expressive Arts Therapy and Authentic Movement for adults are also part of the Studio offerings. The very successful Children and Teen Dance School begins its fourth year under the direction of Jennifer Carlson. The School offers instruction in ballet, modern dance, creative movement, hip hop/jazz, and tap. In addition to ongoing classes, the Studio offers special workshops in Dance/Theatre, Aerial Dance, Pilates, Yoga, Contact Improvisation, and Meditation. The Studio is a resource for rehearsal and workshop space for the Ipswich Moving Company and other Ipswich and North Shore dance and theatre artists.

The Ipswich Dance Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit educational and cultural arts organization. The programs and services described in this brochure are all programs of the Ipswich Dance Foundation. Philanthropic support from the community and the friends of the arts is needed to ensure the continued success of the Foundation and its programs. Donations to the Foundation are tax-exempt and we encourage you to support through direct donations, participation as volunteers and involvement in the Studio’s programs and the Company’s performances. The Foundation wishes to thank its 2004 corporate and government donors: Ebsco Publishing, Eaton Cummings Group, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

For information about becoming an Ipswich Moving Company Donor, Sponsor or Volunteer please contact Janet Taisey Craft, Artistic Director