Transnational Fusion Dance

photo by Steven Balderrama

Transnational Fusion is technical practice that defies easy categorization. This distinctive class dialogs Arab, North African, nomadic funk, hip hop, yoga and contemporary techniques together with the best live percussion, underground electronica, mash-up, dubstep, experimental, and hip hop music in the universe. This is a genre-bending class for movers unafraid of new possibilities, hardcore rhythms, hip work, athletic challenge, and attentive bodywork. A fantastic and adventurous sense of humor is required. A Yoga mat is essential for warm up, and knee pads/dance shoes may be helpful on occasion. All movers, of any training background, will be warmly welcomed.

Donna Mejia is a choreographer, lecturer, teacher, administrator, and performer specializing in contemporary dance, traditions of the Arab and African Diaspora, and emerging fusion traditions in Transnational Electronica. For 10 years she was a faculty member at Colorado College and Director of the Colorado College International Summer Dance Festival. For twelve years she served as managing director of the award-winning Harambee African Dance Ensemble of CU-Boulder. With Harambee she was awarded the prestigious El Pomar Foundation grant, was featured in the March 1996 issue of Dance Magazine, performed for President Bill Clinton and Nobel Laureate Archbiship Desmond Tutu, and was hailed as the “Best of Boulder” for 3 years running. Donna is an authorized instructor of Brazilian Silvestre Modern Dance Technique and is a primary person assisting in codifying this esoteric study of dance and the body after 20 years of practice. Donna was the Guest Artist in Residence for Smith College Dance 2006 through 2009, and has been awarded residencies at the Naropa Institute, Mt. Holyoke College, Hampshire College, University of Northern Colorado, Tapei National University of the Arts, Bucknell University, Colorado State University, Earthdance, Jacob’s Pillow and the Bates Dance Festival. Donna achieved honors marks in the completion her Master of Fine Arts degree on full fellowship. She is director of the Sovereign Collective, a social action and performance ensemble. Her touring lectures about identity in the digital diaspora, ethics/integrity/trends in global dance fusion, and the deconstruction of the femme fatale caricature in dance have earned her the title “Raqs Royalty” [Arabic for dance] by the digital press.