History

Founded in 1990 by artistic/executive director Douglas Scott, the organization was originally known as Dance Force. Rehearsals began in January 1991, and the premiere concert was presented on June 22, 1991. The company began as a "traditional" dance company — all members were professional dancers without disabilities.

In 1993, through a partnership with VSA arts of GA, Shepherd Center and Special Audiences, Douglas began teaching dance classes for persons with physical disabilities and the course of his career was changed. He was intrigued by the challenge of creating a modern dance technique that would be inclusive and challenging for all physical abilities; one firmly arts-based and not designed to be "therapeutic". Through hard work, trial and error, and learning from his students, Douglas developed a distinct style and technique, now celebrated for its artistry and inclusiveness.

In 1995, Douglas was asked to create dances for the Arts Festival of Atlanta-commissioned production of "Visage En Face", a collaboration with rock band Van Gogh. Douglas and Ardath Prendergast (a dancer/choreographer and arts administrator with VSA Arts of GA) enlisted several members of the dance class and on one foggy evening at Atlanta’s Piedmont Park, launched the first performance of the dance company E=Motion. Although included under the Dance Force board of directors and fiscal sponsorship, E=Motion operated separately from the Dance Force company until the feasibility of this new and bold venture was determined.  The company soon thrived. In 1998, E=Motion merged with Dance Force to create Full Radius Dance with Douglas serving as Artistic/Executive Director and Ardath as Artistic Associate, a position she held until her relocation in 2003.