Wow – In Nirvana right now! Donna literally kicks butt (every muscle in my body has that exquisite sweet-soreness from a thorough workout); from a 40 minute warm-up, to bodywork, and full out drills.

I’m in love I’m in love I’m in love I’m in love I’m in love.

Many thanks, and love devotion to Rachel, and to Rob of The Yoga Place for hosting a spectacular retreat!

From her website:

“Donna Mejia is a choreographer, lecturer, teacher, administrator, and performer specializing in contemporary dance, traditions of the Arab/African Diaspora, and new fusion traditions in world electronica. Donna is amongst a handful of artists authorized to instruct the Brazilian Silvestre Modern Dance Technique (an esoteric, codified system of contemporary dance technique).”

I posted video back in October, and since then a few more have been posted on her YouTube Channel. Cannot explain it completely, but having only encountered Donna through the digital medium, I’ve come to admire and respect this artist like I have never before. “Authenticity” comes to mind, but that only scratches the surface of what watching her perform evokes. There’s an earth honesty that flash for me whenever I see her energy move.

Add to that that she is the founder and director of the Sovereign Project:

“The Sovereign Collective: A Complete Re-Visioning of a Traditional Dance Company

“Sovereign” is a movement arts and social action collective pledged to elevate social consciousness toward a reverent connection to the human body. This project is an effort to mobilize concerned citizens around an issue that can seem too large for an individual to take on: sovereignty of the human body.

Transgressions against physical self-determination manifest across international, cultural, religious, political and economic lines in a multitude of practices: genital mutilation; legally sanctioned infantile marriages; elder abuse; sexual servitude; censorship of sexual information; slavery; honor killings; media-influenced distortions of body-image; domestic violence; military torture; inaccessibility to affordable healthcare; forced medical intervention or end of life management; etc.”

…and I am reduced to a puddle of awe.

“Captivate your mind and senses with enthralling lecture and movement instruction. Break through to the next layer of your dance within the fascinating structure and knowledge of Donna Mejia. This full immersion weekend intensive will provide you with a full physical training experience, combined with mindful instruction and thoughtful lecture and discussion, totaling 12 hours (see below for schedule). As part of the intensive, you’ll be treated to a special Saturday evening performance by Donna Mejia, featuring live music and guest performances.”

Click on this image for the video of Donna’s Improv at the Tribalcon Gathering: