¿ quiénes somos?


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, Spain, and Palestine, 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'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.





company members



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.   

detailed biography


 

Fran de Paula

Company Member | Rehearsal Director | HR

Born in Andalusia, Spain, Fran started his dance studies in ballet and flamenco when he was 5 years old. De Paula has performed at the musical “El Diluvio Que Viene”, and operas such as “La Partenope”, “Un Ballo In Maschera” and “La Gioconda. He danced in “Lope” the movie, “Noche Sensacional” and “Verano Noche”. In Boston, he performed at Boston Dance Company’s Nutcracker, and worked as a ballroom dancing dance instructor and competitor with Arthur Murray. Fran has been a member of Danza Orgánica since 2010.




Claudia E. Varela 

Company Member | Logistics Coordinator 

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. 







Marcel Santiago Marcelino

Company Member | Administrative Assistant


Marcel Santiago Marcelino is a Domini-Rican dance artist born in Boston, MA. Marcel lived part of his childhood in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico before returning to the states. His creative practice is influenced by Caribbean, contemporary and improvisational dance methods. He is a Director’s Scholarship recipient and 2021 BFA graduate of the University of the Arts School of Dance, Dir. Donna Faye Burchfield. Marcel had the pleasure of spending part of a semester studying classical and contemporary dance at the Conservatorio Superior de Danza "María de Ávila" in Madrid, Spain. During his time at UArts, he collaborated and performed in work by Lauren Bakst at the Camping Dance Festival in Paris and Lyon, France. He has also had the pleasure of performing works by Sidra Bell, Katie Swords-Thurman, and Juel Lane amongst others. In 2021 Marcel joined Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers (Philly) and danced with the company as an apprentice for one season. In 2022, he returned to Boston and joined Urbanity Dance as a company dancer and faculty member. Marcel is currently a company member with Danza Orgánica, as well as the company's Administrative Assistant and We Create Festival Liaison.




Jassi Murad

Company Member

Jassi Murad (They/ them) is an inter-disciplinary artivist, healer, teacher and student. Native to Jerusalem, Palestine— they perceive art as a means of non-violent archival resistance, and expression as a tool of healing. Their  practice is guided by a research of intersectional liberation through Somatic Abolition and co-creation of alternative realities. Holding a BA in Contemporary Dance and Performance, 200hr YTT, and Reiki practitioner; they work globally with a diverse range of interdisciplinary creators. 





Yarumi González

Company Member

Originally from Caracas, Venezuela and currently based in Boston, Yarumi González defines herself as a creator and researcher in the fields of movement, ritual, performance, dance, theater, and grassroots organization. Since childhood, she has been deeply moved by art and social struggles.
She conceives of art as a multifaceted field that extends beyond mere aesthetic enjoyment; it mirrors intricate social and power dynamics. In this sense, she has worked extensively with rural and urban communities, blending art with community outreach2
Her contemporary dance training integrates various techniques, influenced by Popular Education, Theatre of the Oppressed, work with small farmers and underserved communities, influenced by Eugenio Barba's Anthropological Theater, and trained in Teatro Altosf’s "Teatro Desconocido" method. She has also explored visual arts and intermedia, drawing inspiration from Ana Mendieta.




Dana Alsamsam

Company Member

Dana Alsamsam is a Syrian-American interdisciplinary movement and language artist based in Boston. Since 2021, she has been the Artistic Director of Novum Dance Collective, bringing to life the company’s vision of exploring and celebrating human identity through movement. Her movement is classified by its poetics and athletic rebellion with choreography credits including Novum Dance Collective, Moonwater Dance Project, DePaul Dance Company and many others, presented across Boston and Chicago. Her performance credits also include Sasso & Company, Ascendence Dance Chicago, and independent artists such as Liana C. Percoco and Lin Kahn. She is a published, award-winning poet with work supported by fellowships from Emerson College, Lambda Literary, and Breadloaf Writers Conference. Dana is thrilled to work with Danza Orgánica this season. 

 







company collaborators










Dey Hernández 

Collaborator

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!



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. 








Etienne Hernández
Melaza Collaborator

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.





Puerto Rico Based Proyecto Melaza Collaborators:

Giovanna Sosa, Jaime Maldonado, Marili Pizarro, Karlo Javier Martinez, X Hernandez





technical team

Lighting Designers: 
Stephen Petrilli
Harrison Burke

 
 

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