2011 TenderSwitch Part ii – iv (Oakland) A series of multi-instillation, site-specific, group dance pieces with giant puppets by Magical Moonshine Theatre, Ohlone/Chumash vocalist Kanyon Sayers-Roods, at the Jack London Aquatic Center and downtown to original music and Native American Songs w/ a post-performance discussion with Tribal Chieftain Ann Marie Sayers. Music created with Gregory Scharpen.

2010 TenderSwitch Part I: A Dance on the Brink of the World (Oakland)

An evening-length, episodic, site-specific group piece at the Jack London Aquatic Center, starting at the end of sunset. Music by Moe! Staiano, Cheryl Leonard, and Gregory Scharpen. Performed by Ri Molnar, Andy Schmeder, and Micaela Gardner.

Rain Dance

The first dance piece of its kind ever to be created...a collaborative effort with live and recorded music, performed by the clients and staff of Covenant House, an Oakland shelter for homeless youth. Included in this 5-month rehearsal process were workshops and jam sessions with Purple Smoke and     members of Sly and the Family Stone. $3,000 worth of musical instruments were generously donated  by individuals in support of this project. Rain Dance was created through our program, the Phoenix Rising Homeless Project.

2008-9 A Portrait by Means of the Sun (Oakland, San Francisco)

An evening-length solo piece conceived, choreographed, improvised and performed by Dawn McMahan utilizing wind, sculptural set pieces and live music. It was shown as a work-in-progress at Studio 210 as part of Bare Bones Butoh in San Francisco. The full-length piece was performed for two evenings at 21 Grand. It became a large, multi-installation piece which involved orchestrated scents, three sets, interactive sculptures, choreographed lighting and live-miked movement in the cavernous Bay Gallery at the SOMArts Cultural Center.

2007 Species (San Francisco)

A 30-minute structured improvisation solo at the Yerba Buena Gardens Gallery performed on a small, moving platform remotely operated and ran on a track, created in response to and with a sculptural installation. Original score collaboratively created with Gregory Scharpen.

2006 Humble Picnic (Oakland)

An evening-length, multi-installation group piece, utilizing aerial dance and sculptural structures, choreographed to original music and video. The work-in-progress showing of one section took place as part of a showcase at Terry Sendgraff's Motivity Studio in Berkeley. Original score collaboratively created with Gregory Scharpen

2005 Skin Tap Hair (San Francisco, Oakland)

A choreographed piece performed at Dance Mission as part of their spring choreographer's showcase and at the Lobo Gallery in Oakland, California, as part of a Dax Pierson benefit evening.  Original score collaboratively created with Gregory Scharpen

2005 From Here We Watch the World Go By (Berkeley)

A multi-installation, site-specific group dance piece conceived and choreographed by Dawn McMahan utilizing sculptural structures. Presented by the Berkeley Arts Festival and journeyed throughout downtown Berkeley in the Berkeley BART station, Civic Çenter Park to a dance on tabletops at Au Coquelet restaurant, and then a jungle gym, in the light of the setting sun. Original sound score.

2004 A Breach in the Ghostly Skin (Oakland)

A 90-minute structured improvisation solo performed at 21 Grand by Dawn McMahan. In Oakland. It was born from a collaboration with music artist Kirana Peyton of Blackbird Stitches who performed live, with live recordings of sleeptalker Dion McGregor.

2003 After You is Manners (San Diego, San Francisco)

This solo piece was danced entirely on a single white line, lit only by a lightbulb. World Premiere took place at the Sushi Performance Gallery with a work-in-progress showing at Venue 9 as part of the Womens’ Work Series. Original score.

2002 Innocent Malice (San Francisco)

A solo structured improvisation performed by Dawn McMahan to live, original music by the Oneiromantic Ambiguity Collective at a Cowell Theatre showcase and at the Marsh.

2001 Suburbia (San Francisco Bay Area)

A 3-month exploration of 3 site-specific solo dance pieces in public spaces in Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Berkeley with a single, large, helium balloon and elaborate costumes, interacting with the culture and environments to the soundtrack from The Sound of Music.

2001 Scraped Rime (San Francisco)

A solo dance piece presented in a Dance Mission showcase.

2000 ma-ma-Mammalia (San Francisco)

A multi-installation, site-specific group piece performed in Golden Gate Park as part of the San Francisco Fringe Festival, conceived and choreographed by Dawn McMahan. it included performances by homeless people that lived in the space. Five dances were performed at different sites and trees. It was the most sold-out show in the festival.