Donna Mejia
Resume
Contact
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, emphasis in Marketing (awarded December of 1991 by the University of Colorado at Boulder)
- INROADS College Component Training and Development Curriculum: Four-year college supplement program addressing management skills, effective communication, business sophistication and community development.
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Movement Training
Summary
- African Dance Teachers: Letitia Williams (Diaspora), Malonga Casquelourd (Congolese), Amaniyea Payne (West African and African American), C.K. ganyo (Ghanaian), Chuck Davis (Gambian, Senegalese, South African), Malik Sow (Senegalese), Moussa Diabate (Guinean), Rujeko Dumbutshena (Zimbabwean), Abdoulaye Camara (Guinean), Moustapha Bangoura (Guinean), Marie Basse (Senegalese).
- Ashtanga Yoga Teachers: Richard Freeman, Richard Durnford
- Arabic/Gypsy Tribal Fusion Teachers: Rachel Brice, Gypsy Ames, Genoviva Quinn, occasional workshops with Caroleena Nerricio, Jill Parker, Karim Nagi, Heather Stans.
- Ballet/Jazz Teachers: Jeoffry Engle (ABT), Barbara Ellis, Scott Benson, Richard Pierlon, Micaya.
- Hip Hop Teachers: GettOriginals, Rennie Harris, Clyde Evans, Kwikstep, street competitions.
- Caribbean Teachers: Bella Carib, Dr. Yvonne Daniel, Los Muequitos de Matanzanas, Blanche Brown and Petite la Croix, Richard Gonzalez.
- Latin/Folklorico Teachers: Sonia Sanchez, Manuel Lovó, El Grupo Quinto Sol.
- Modern and Contemporary Dance Teachers: Rosangela Silvestre, Edward Winslow, Donald McKayle, occasional workshops with Carmen De Lavallade, Theo Jamison, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, and Ron Brown.
- Personal studies in Movement Science ™, Pilates, Gyrokinesis, harmonics and clairsentience. top
Professional Experience
- 9/97-Present Faculty, Drama and Dance Department, Colorado College Director, Colorado College Summer Dance Festival
- Instructor of African dance, Modern dance, Funk-jazz, Movement Science and Improvisational dance
- Block Course in development: Dances of the Arabic World
- Waitlists for most classes taught and outstanding student evaluations
- Student advising responsibilities added in 2003
- Committee Member, African Studies Committee, Colorado College Faculty (2003-present)
- International Summer Dance Festival
- 2002 International Summer Dance Festival
- Assumed direction of festival three weeks before opening day
- 3-week festival featuring contemporary and traditional/world dance forms
- 3 international faculty members and 80 participants (60% international)
- Faculty member instructing West African and Funk-Jazz
- Budget surplus in inaugural year
- 2003-2004
- Coordinator/supervisor of 18 international faculty members, 5 staff and 8 volunteers
- Designer and administrator of all festival events, fiscal management and marketing materials
- Innovative collaborations with community organizations: Cleo Parker Robinson, Colorado Dance Alliance, Colorado Lawyers for the Arts, Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind
- First national dance festival to feature Native American Dance, Adagio-Acrobalance, education regarding common eating disorders and copyright/legal issues for dancers/choreographers
- 2005
- Gala Showcase sold out
- Most classes at full capacity, outstanding student evaluations
- 20 international faculty, 5 staff and 12 volunteers
- 25 international registrants, over 100 domestic registrants
- Choreographed works for annual faculty dance concert (1999-present)
- Critical acclaim for 2005 Arabic/Modern fusion work titled "Summon the Kindred"
- "An arresting work" — Colorado Dance Alliance Newsletter
- Innovative Choreography Award nominee, Pikes Peak Arts Council
- Featured performance, Inaugural Colorado Dance Alliance Awards
- Performer, Tribal Fest 5 Arabic Dance Conference
- Choreographer/Movement Consultant, "Arabian Nights" (2005)
- Collaboration by University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, CC and the Pikes Peak Library District (1 month run)
- Coached/arranged all dance sequences, stunts and character development
- Special event public lecture: Overview of women's dance in the Arab World
- "gracefully authentic…superb choreography" — Mark Arnest, The Gazette
- Critical acclaim for choreographed works "Witchy Waters" (2000), and "E.K.G." (2003)
- Keynote lecture, Winter Start Orientation 2006
- Guest Presenter, "Colorado College Brazil Week" (2003) and Caribbean Festival of Culture (2004)
- Director, Colorado College Touring Dance Company (1999-2002)
- Planning Committee and Performer, ACM African Studies Conference (2004-2005)
- "Positive Influence" honored dinner guest, Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority (2005)
- "Students Choice" Guest Speaker, Senergy House Community Dinner (2004)
- 1989-1999 Managing Director, Harambee African Dancers and Drummers CU-Boulder Theater and Dance Department
- Founding member, senior dancer and soloist of ensemble directed by Professor Emerita, Letitia Williams
- Managed all booking, contractual/financial negotiations and designed press kit
- Secured sponsorship for Colorado Dance Festival participation five consecutive years
- Trained all new members for over 40 annual performances
- Authored and received all public/private grants applied for
- Performer, 2000 Harambee Alumni Concert/Faculty Dance Concert
- Notable Harambee Achievements
- Awarded 1995 El Pomar Foundation Award for Excellence and $10,000 grant
- Performances for President Bill Clinton (1995) and Archbiship Desmond Tutu (1998)
- Featured in 1996 issue of Dance Magazine
- "Best of Boulder" (1996-1998) — Boulder Daily Camera newspaper
- Performers, 1996 Black College Dance Exchange in Virginia
- Finale performance, 1999 International Association of Blacks in Dance Showcase
- Recipient of 1997 Boulder Arts Commission Major Grant
- Private works by Chuck Davis, C.K. Ganyo, Abdoulaye Camara, James Yarborough and Malik Sow
- 8/95-9/97 Managing Director, Dance West Studio, Boulder
- Responsible for overseeing scheduling, marketing, operation, financial security and personnel
- Faculty member/choreographer since opening in 1994
- Instructor of intermediate and advanced classes in West African dance, Funk-Jazz and Stretch/Conditioning classes
- Accomplishements: stabilizing operations, building consistency in clientele trends, record-breaking income levels over many Colorado studios, high caliber guest artist connections, expanded community outreach and increased sophistication of marketing
- After departure, invited to return to management to direct hip-hop, African and jazz
- 1/92-6/95 Admissions Counselor, University of Colorado at Boulder
- Student Recruitment Services Division, specially assigned to Multicultural Access and Community Affairs and Liaison to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities
- Manager of nation-wide recruitment/confirmation effort ("Previews")
- First in the department to conduct/author an in-depth study of recruitment practices for students of color. Co-coordinated design of recruitment program that increased African-American applicatns by 30%
- Publication and communication design for targeted student populations
- Representative of CU-Boulder in public speaking around the nation top
Notable Skills
- Desktop Publishing (portfolio available) specializing in QuarkXpress
- Imovie and IDVD proficiency
- Excellent public speaking skills, Proficient in Spanish, basic skills in Mandarin Chinese
- Typing 70 WPM, ten key by touch
- Calligraphy, home sewing and freehand sketching
- Vocalist and choral performer top
Achievements and Community Involvement
- Presenter/Performer, Planning Committee Member for Memorial Hospital's Day of Dance, Women's Health Care Clinic Benefit, (2006)
- Presenter/Performer, Tribal Café 2006 (Redlands, CA)
- Presenter/Performer, Tribal Fest 2006 (Sonoma, CA)
- Private choreography commission, Ormao Modern Dance Company (2005-2006)
- Performer, NBA Latin America All-Star Game official after party (2005)
- Featured Artist and Guest Faculty, Taipei national University of the Arts (2004)
- Youth Presenter and guest instructor, Artes Latino (2003)
- Discussion Panel Member, "Ethics in Dance", South West American College Dance Festival (2002)
- Dance Faculty, South West American College Dance Festival (2002)
- Guest Faculty, company class, Kim Robards Dance (2001)
- Visiting artist, Yuko Jazz Studios, Tokyo, Japan (2000)
- Faculty, Taiwan Dance Festival hosted by the National Institute of the Arts (2000/2003)
- Youth Faculty, International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference (2000)
- Guest faculty, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Studio (1999-present)
- Performer, Colorado College Women's Art Festival (2000)
- Faculty, Kim Robards Summer Dance Intensive (2000)
- Guest Faculty, Bucknell University, PA (1999)
- Faculty, Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop (1997-2000)
- Emergency transport volunteer, Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (1996-present)
- Emergency rescue, transport and ICU volunteer, Denver Wild Bird Sanctuary (2002)
- Guest faculty and choreographer, Tsoying Performing Arts School, Taiwan (1999-2000)
- Guest faculty, Dance Nova Studio, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (1999-2000)
- Guest faculty American College Dance Festival (1999, Western Division)
- Guest faculty, Snowy Range Dance Festival (1999)
- Guest faculty, Bucknell University, PA (1999)
- Full scholarhsip, Colorado Dance Festival (1999)
- Guest artist, Colorado State University in Fort Collins (1997-1998)
- 3-D model Spokeswoman, Microsoft Windows '98
- Guest presenter, CU-Boulder Religious Studies Department (1997)
- Organizer/Director of performing arts stage at Boulder creek Festival (1997)
- Director, CU-Boulder Dance in the African Diaspora Festival (1994-1995)
- Featured inspirational speaker for CU-Boulder Student Services Department (1995)
- Featured in August issue of national African American publication Essence (1994)
- Featured guest on the "Phil donahue Show" (1994)
- Board Member, CU-Boulder Black Alumni Board of Directors (1992-1994)
- Board Member, CU-Boulder Cultural Events Board (1991-1994)
- Nominated by CU-Boulder for Outstanding Black Graduate (1992)
- "Global Jam" design/planning committee, attendance ~7000 (1991)
- Resident Advisor, CU-Boulder: trained new staff, special training in crisis and conflict resolution skills, awarded special honors for outstanding social and cultural programming (1990-1991)
- INROADS Denver, Inc. Board of Directors; Chairperson of Colorado Springs Intern Committee (1987-1991) top
