Dance & Choreography
ANNA MAYTA
Dancer, Choreographer & Founder of Mayta Fusion Dance
Photo Credit: Barbara Todd
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"I am a creator of stories that embody one’s soul. It is my goal to show diversity through unity." ~ Anna Mayta |
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About Mayta Fusion Dance:
Anna’s project-based dance company is located in Poughkeepsie, NY. Her mission is to weave multicultural forms of movement together to foster global narratives and shine a spotlight on our universality and diversity. Anna’s work uses dance as a tool to bring awareness of our oneness, our connectedness, our humanity, our history, our cultures, our equality, and the beauty of the world through performances, choreography, workshops, talks and dance events. In order to create pieces that inspire and bring about change, she strives to create meaningful, high-quality choreography in a multidisciplinary fashion and in collaboration with other artists - musicians, actors, dancers, visual artists, writers, poets, etc. Contact Anna for more information. |
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Anna discusses fusion style dance, the inspiration behind her work and the importance of creative collaboration.
What was the inspiration behind Mayta Fusion Dance? Was part of this a desire to bring your community together?
From the time I started dancing at 14 years old, I knew that I wanted to start a dance company in order to have a creative outlet and to work with other choreographers. To me, dance, as well as other performing arts, is a community endeavor. I was looking to create an environment that celebrates diversity, inclusion and creative collaboration. I studied different dance styles, such as West African, Flamenco, Classical Indian (Baratanatyam), Latin and Modern, and desired to put these dance forms together as one – I am more proficient in blending the styles together to showcase the concept of our ‘oneness” through dance.
My vision became a reality. Two years ago, I began the process of developing Mayta Fusion Dance when the stars aligned and I was prepared to commit to this endeavor.
What are the dance styles you incorporate into most of your work? These styles are blended together in what’s called fusion dance. Please explain a bit.
I engage students with modern, multicultural choreographies that inspire dramatic dance improvisations. I choreograph works in the modern fusion dance style, which unifies West African, classical Indian (Baratanatyam), Flamenco, Modern, and Latin dances in addition to the movement styles of my dancers. I tell world stories that influence, inspire, heal and ponder. As a teacher of children and adults, I have programs that demonstrate my adoration of cultures and that we are one through dance.
Ever since I was a child growing up in Chile, I have loved learning about different cultures, which led me to study as many different styles as I possibly could. I immerse myself in these cultures by extensively studying them and traveling to the countries of origin. For example, I lived in Zimbabwe for six months and India for three.
I am predominantly a modern dancer, but I have been working on a style called fusion dance. With my modern training, I incorporate elements of African, classical Indian, Flamenco, and Latin dance styles. It is my goal to illustrate my adoration of cultures and the unity of movements of different folkloric dances. Fusion dance shows that we are all linked together as one.
I move every part of my body when I dance, moving with a cultural awareness and an emphasis on resilience.
From the time I started dancing at 14 years old, I knew that I wanted to start a dance company in order to have a creative outlet and to work with other choreographers. To me, dance, as well as other performing arts, is a community endeavor. I was looking to create an environment that celebrates diversity, inclusion and creative collaboration. I studied different dance styles, such as West African, Flamenco, Classical Indian (Baratanatyam), Latin and Modern, and desired to put these dance forms together as one – I am more proficient in blending the styles together to showcase the concept of our ‘oneness” through dance.
My vision became a reality. Two years ago, I began the process of developing Mayta Fusion Dance when the stars aligned and I was prepared to commit to this endeavor.
What are the dance styles you incorporate into most of your work? These styles are blended together in what’s called fusion dance. Please explain a bit.
I engage students with modern, multicultural choreographies that inspire dramatic dance improvisations. I choreograph works in the modern fusion dance style, which unifies West African, classical Indian (Baratanatyam), Flamenco, Modern, and Latin dances in addition to the movement styles of my dancers. I tell world stories that influence, inspire, heal and ponder. As a teacher of children and adults, I have programs that demonstrate my adoration of cultures and that we are one through dance.
Ever since I was a child growing up in Chile, I have loved learning about different cultures, which led me to study as many different styles as I possibly could. I immerse myself in these cultures by extensively studying them and traveling to the countries of origin. For example, I lived in Zimbabwe for six months and India for three.
I am predominantly a modern dancer, but I have been working on a style called fusion dance. With my modern training, I incorporate elements of African, classical Indian, Flamenco, and Latin dance styles. It is my goal to illustrate my adoration of cultures and the unity of movements of different folkloric dances. Fusion dance shows that we are all linked together as one.
I move every part of my body when I dance, moving with a cultural awareness and an emphasis on resilience.
Photo Credit: Barbara Todd
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You enjoy collaboration with other artists. How do you think this enhances projects and performances? My vision as a dance improviser, choreographer, and teacher is to embrace the world. I love working collaboratively because of the exchange of ideas - hearing the stories of others and exploring movements and concepts. I cherish the idea of learning from one another, creating choreographies based upon life and humanity. I find inspiration in connecting with others and embracing differences and similarities – our stories are then woven together through dance. I absolutely love working with other artists - musicians, dancers, visual artists, photographers - from the Hudson Valley Region of New York and from around the world. It’s an enriching experience that connects us all. Helen Keller said it well: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” |
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UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:
Hudson First Presbyterian Church “The Duende of Tao. 369 Warren Street Hudson NY May 9 - 7:00pm Hudson Milliner Art Salon “The Duende of Tao” 15 Warren Street Hudson, NY May 10 - 4:00pm Above 2 performances: Mayta Fusion Dance and Zotique World present an hour-long, experimental performance of expressive music and choreography which brings the audience into a trance-like meditative state in order to explore the meaning of "identity" in the 21st century. Poughkeepsie Open Studios 2nd floor of Fall Kill Clay Works 485 Main St Poughkeepsie, NY June 20-21 - 1:00pm to 5:00pm Anna collaborates with photographer Barbara Todd: Barbara's photographs of Anna's rehearsal with pianist Osun Zotique will be exhibited, and Anna will be performing a solo improvisation dance at the top of every hour from 1 to 5pm. |
Photo Credit: Barbara Todd
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Anna Mayta is a dance improviser, choreographer and instructor. She graduated from Empire State College with a B.A. in Dance in Education and received a certificate to teach yoga from Svyasa Swami Vivekananda Yoga University in Bangalore, India.
Anna has worked with many artists, both individually and as part of collaborative projects, including Gigi Oppenheimer (Duets: “The Wisdom Tree,” and “Inner Fire”), the D’amby Project, SolesBare Dance Collective, and The National Ballet of Zimbabwe. Currently, Anna directs her dance company, Mayta Fusion Dance, which is located in Mid-Hudson Valley, NY. Anna teaches, choreographs, and performs throughout New York, including New York City. She danced and choreographed a solo for the First Flamenco Festival, and she is an active participant in her community. She volunteered for O+festival in Poughkeepsie and Kingston, NY and other community projects, including Fall Kill Creative works. In 2006, she was recognized for her community efforts by the Dutchess County Arts Council in Poughkeepsie, New York. Follow Anna on:
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