Lucy Bowen McCauley is the artistic director, choreographer and creative energy behind Bowen McCauley Dance. McCauley’s enduring love for dance moved her to form the company in 1996.  Since founding BMD, McCauley has created over 50 works ranging from lyrical ballets to highly physical contemporary pieces set to muscular rock music. Her repertoire offers an unconventional array of genres; her choreography demonstrates a fluent outpouring of dance blending balletic lines, quirky gestures and modern dance’s earthiness that uniquely explores the interplay between music and dance.  In October 2008, Washingtonian named McCauley among those “who have helped transform Washington into one of the nation’s liveliest centers for the performing arts.”

A dancer since childhood, McCauley’s early training at the Jordan School of Music & Dance (Indianapolis, Ind.) and the Interlochen Center for the Arts (Traverse City, Mich.) provided her with a profound appreciation for both music and musicians that is so striking in her critically acclaimed work.  At age 18, McCauley was offered a scholarship to the Joffrey School in New York City where she performed with the Joffrey Concert Group.  She also danced with the Maryland Ballet, the Virginia State Ballet, DC Contemporary Dance Theatre and Daniel West Dancers. She was a founding member of Eric Hampton Dance.   

McCauley has been awarded the Alumni Path of Inspiration award from the Interlochen Center for the Arts and the STAR Award for Artistic Excellence from the Arlington Commission for the Arts. She is a recipient of the Elizabeth Campbell Award for the Advancement of the Arts in Arlington from the American Association of University Women.  McCauley is a 2008 graduate of Leadership Arlington.  McCauley received the 2009 James B. Hunter III Arlington Community Hero Award, which recognizes people who make an ongoing difference in the Arlington community.  Also in 2009, BMD was awarded the prestigious “Nonprofit of the Year” ABBIE Award from the Arlington Chamber of Commerce.

Over the years McCauley has taught at The George Washington University, The Washington Ballet and has been a guest teacher at ABT, the Orlando Ballet, The John F. Kennedy Center, Georgetown University and the Escuela Superior de Música y Danza in Monterrey, Mexico. She is currently on the faculty at the Maryland Youth Ballet, The Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, Washington Ballet@THEARC and Studio Body Logic. McCauley has pioneered a unique stretch technique, Bowen McCauley Stretch, which has been featured in USA Today, Dance Teacher, and The Washington Post.

In a desire to bring the joy and beauty of dance to new audiences, McCauley has created outreach programs that touch underserved communities throughout the Metropolitan area.  She enjoys teaching dance and stretch to people of all ages.  In partnership with the Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area, McCauley is teaching free weekly dance classes to people with Parkinson Disease and their care-partners. 

Bowen McCauley Dance Company

Bowen McCauley Dance, celebrating its 14th season as Metro D.C.’s premier contemporary dance company, is renowned for it corps of professional dancers and the unique and sublime choreography of Lucy Bowen McCauley. Collaborations with world-class musicians, artists and designers are also company hallmarks. BMD regularly performs regionally and nationally, and has been chosen to perform at places such as Jacob’s Pillow and festivals in New York City, Mexico and Germany. In the Washington D.C. area, the company has been presented by the Washington Performing Arts Society and Signature Theatre and has collaborated with numerous dance and musical groups including most recently Liz Lerman Dance Exchange and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra. BMD may be seen in the metro area at such venues as The Kennedy Center, Signature Theatre, Rachel Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center, The Harman Center for the Arts and Lubber Run Amphitheatre. Through performances, workshops and community outreach, the company energizes audiences with its signature style and introduces people of all ages to the joys and beauty of dance.

In recognition of outstanding dance and community service, BMD has been awarded the prestigious “Nonprofit of the Year” 2009 ABBIE Award by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, the STAR Award for Artistic Excellence from the Arlington Commission for the Arts and the Elizabeth Campbell Award for the Advancement of the Arts in Arlington from the American Association of University Women.

Outreach - Parkinson Disease

In partnership with the Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area, the Company provides free weekly dance classes to people with Parkinson Disease and their care-partners in both Virginia and Maryland.

Outreach – Education

The company’s educational outreach programs for students are found throughout the metropolitan region and reach over 15,000 students annually through classes, programs and performances.

More information about us may be found at WWW.BMDC.ORG