Capitol Movement, Inc. (CMI) established 501(c)(3) status in October 2006, but the company actually began in February 2005. Co-Founders Amber Yancey and Stephanie Jojokian decided that it was time to elevate the quality and integrity of dance training and opportunities in the District of Columbia by producing an annual dance concert titled “The Capitol Movement Project” (CMP). It was their dream to create an outlet for the DC dance community to train with and perform as elite dancers while providing outreach to disadvantaged DC youth. To bring this dream to fruition, Amber and Stephanie began hosting master classes, workshops, and auditions with choreographers from New York and Los Angeles like Darrin Henson, Liz Imperio, Lee Martino;and locals like Adrain Bolton and Thomas Ford. They commissioned the choreographers to create original works for the show and give local dancers an opportunity to train and perform with these professional artists. The inaugural concert took place on June 10, 2006 at the historic Lincoln Theatre, with an original cast of 45 dancers. The Lincoln Theatre quickly became a home for the project when the Executive Director, Janice Hill, requested that CMI establish itself as “The Resident Dance Company” for the Theatre. By the end of August of that year, Amber and Stephanie realized that it was time to form a 501 (c)(3) organization so they could not only create performance opportunities,but offer monetary and program scholarships to students in need.