¿ 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. 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.








Marcel Santiago Marcelino

On Temporary Leave


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.






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.

Simon Montalvo

Simon Montalvo (they/them) is an interdisciplinary movement artist, researcher, and collector of stories born on the land once nurtured by the Coahuiltecan and Karankawan peoples. Described by collaborators as ‘delightful’, ‘unique’, and ‘a powerhouse’, Simon’s movement history can be categorized through the lens of improvisation, dance theatre, and radical community care. Their choreographic works investigate bounding athleticism, nourishing emotional offerings, and sobering truths laid against abstracted realities. Oftentimes, Simon can be found lounging in a sun spot, gossiping with the trees at Jamaica Pond, or reading on public transit for attention. 
Simon’s professional achievements include a BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, the Dancemakers Residency awarded through the Boston Center for the Arts, the Next Steps for Boston Dance Artists award, and a past mentee of Midday Movement Series’ BIPOC Mentorship Program. Simon’s works have been presented by the Boston Center for the Arts, Rhode Island Choreography Project, Mobius, Danza Orgánica, The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Project 31, and TAMUCC. Simon is currently a full time company member with Danza Orgánica.






company collaborators









Juliet Salameh

Juliet Salameh  (she/her) is a queer, interdisciplinary healer-artist of Palestinian American descent. Juliet works as a song and theatre maker, chef, reiki practitioner, and educator. After earning a BFA in Acting from Emerson College, she has worked with Rites of Passage Project, Earthdance, Bread and Puppet Theatre, B.A.W.D; Boston Arm Wrestling Dames, and on The Voyeuges film series. Currently, Juliet leads a protest folk band called Songs of Liberation and sings with Arabic folkloric group, Hawa Collective. Juliet believes bringing pleasure and creativity to a larger movement for justice and liberation, strengthens the movement and our community.  

find her on Instagram @julietorchid 











Dey Hernández 

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