Founded in 2007 by Afro-Taíno artist Mar Parrilla, Danza Orgánica is a Boston-based dance theater company focused on equity, social justice, and decolonization. With dancers from Borikén (Puerto Rico), Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Spain, DO brings a multiplicity of experiences centered around common themes of migration, antiracism, and decolonization, all working toward the embodiment of a liberated future.
DO is currently collaborating with members of the Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe through the project Âs Nupumukômun (We Still Dance). They are also working with a collective of Puerto Rican artists based in Puerto Rico through Proyecto Melaza, founded by Mar Parrilla.
DO's programming includes performances, education through their Dance for Social Justice™ program, and the annual We Create festival. We honor our right to express our BIPOC experience, joyfully reimagine ourselves in liberated BIPOC bodies, and leave a legacy that sheds light on untold histories.
Mar Parrilla
Founding Artistic Director- Lead Choreographer
Producer- Educator
Taíno Afroborikua artist Mar Parrilla was birthed by Mother Earth in the Caribbean, Borikén (so called Puerto Rico). She is the Founding Artistic Director, and lead Choreographer of Danza Orgánica. Mar holds a Bachelor's Degree in Languages from the University of Puerto Rico, and a Master's Degree in Dance Education from New York University. Since 2014, Parrilla has produced the annual festival: We Create!- devoted to promoting the work of BIPOC self-identified mujeres, and gender non-conforming artists. Mar is also an educator, and founder of the Dance for Social Justice™ program. She has served in public schools, colleges and universities in the United States since 1998. Besides Danza Orgánica she devotes her life to her spirituality, her solo artist practice, her family, and community organizing.
Dey Hernández
Company Member
Dey is an architect, interdisciplinary artist, performance artist, and educator. She designs and directs workshops with AgitArte, a non-profit organization dedicated to artistic and popular education projects in marginalized communities. Dey is also a puppeteer of the Puerto Rico-based radical workers’ theater collective, Papel Machete. Her work and performances most recently have been exhibited at the Mills Gallery of the Boston Center for the Arts, and Loisaida Center in New York City. She is currently the art director and curator of When We Fight, We Win!
Claudia E. Varela
Company Member
Claudia was born and raised in Reynosa, Mexico, where she danced with Academia de Danza La Scala and Casa de la Cultura de Reynosa. She graduated Cum Laude from UC San Diego with a Dance B.A. and a Bioengineering B.S. Varela believes that dance is a powerful way to protest and advocate for social justice, and in her choreographic work, she has explored issues such as, the drug violence affecting her hometown and the disappearing of 43 students in Ayotzinapa. Currently, Claudia is pursuing a Ph.D. in the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology and is thrilled to have the opportunity to dance with Danza Orgánica.
Andrea Muñiz
From San Juan, Puerto Rico, Andrea is a Boston based movement artist. Andrea is committed to the craft of channeling movement in collaborative environments. Their choreographic work lives on the edges of the physical and the imagined. In 2019, they graduated from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee with a BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance. They have performed with El Taller Juvenil de Andanza, The Robin Aren Company, and Boston Dance Theater. Andrea is currently an artist with Danza Orgánica. You can follow them on Instagram (@drea.muniz) to see more.
Victoria Sagardía
Melaza Collaborator
Puerto Rican artist, Victoria Sagardía accomplished a Bachelor of Arts at Emerson College. She is ballet trained, and also trained with CoDa 21 in Puerto Rico. Victoria is thrilled to be dancing with Danza Orgánica.
Etienne is from San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he began his training at La escuela Julian Blanco and Ballet Concierto. He graduated from the Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid, with a Masters in choreography & performing arts. Hernandez performed throughout Spain with El Joven Ballet de Cámara de Madrid for 5 years. He was also a member of Ballet Brio in P.R, and has presented dance works internationally. Presently he teaches in Boston and around the north shore area and is delighted to be a member of Danza Orgánica.
do alumni:
Joya Powell
Sahar Javedani
Alicia Woo
Angela Dixon
Doreen Kramer
Jeca Rodríguez
Nicole Hirsch
Maria Molteni
Marissa Molinar
Tara Weaver
Kara Fili
Wayne Ong
Joe Gonzalez
Sakurako Awano
Gabriela Silva
Terina Jasmin- Alladin
Juanita Pearl
Ashley Freeman
Ashly Jensen
Sarah Elaz
Chienhwe
Mckersin Previlus
Amy M. Burns
Earnest Gildon
Fray Cordero
Al Rosa
