FISH HAWK WING | MODERN DANCE

A modern dance performance group in Bend, Oregon

History & Philosophy

Fish Hawk Wing was founded in July 2008 by Bonnie Walker and Maureen McClelland, who wanted to continue the work of Rachael Wilson's "White Elephant Project" after Rachael moved back to her home state of Virginia. During the fall of 2008 as Fish Hawk Wing was conducting its first auditions and adding new members, it was invited to join Bend Dance Project, a nonprofit umbrella organization for dance troupes in Central Oregon.

Under the direction of Bonnie Walker, Fish Hawk Wing performed throughout the 2008-2009 season at First Friday Downtown Art Walks, Last Thursday Old Mill District Art Walk, COCC's "Word Cafe" in collaboration with local poets, the Central Oregon Dance Showcase, culminating in the Bend Dance Project "Spectrum: A Collaboration of the Arts" during National Dance Week 2009.

As the group continued to grow and flourish, Fish Hawk Wing members decided to leave Bend Dance Project and work as an independent dance company. In the summer of 2009, Bonnie Walker established Fish Hawk Wing Modern Dance, LLC as a "social entrepreneurship." Like many socially-minded contemporaries, Fish Hawk Wing operates as a Limited Liability Corporation in order to take advantage of the relative ease of operating an LLC and thereby keep the focus on the artistry and community benefit of being a modern dance troupe, forgoing the massive amounts of paperwork that nonprofit status requires.

During the summer of 2009, Fish Hawk Wing was accepted as a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a nonprofit arts service organization. Working under the umbrella of Fractured Atlas allows Fish Hawk Wing to participate in nonprofit fundraising while keeping its own independent vision and goals.

Fish Hawk Wing's company financial goal is to simply break even on its artistic and charitable endeavors. All Contributing Artists participate in Fish Hawk Wing on a volunteer basis and proceeds from class offerings, fundraising and performance efforts are put back into the company in order that Fish Hawk Wing can continue in its mission of making modern dance more visible and accessible in the community.