Yvonne Montoya
Choreographer. Writer. Speaker. Mother.

Grateful for our CSUSM residency Connection, conversation, and creation are three words that sum up our time in this beautiful place.  Thank you for holding space for us to share Stories from Home with you all. We left feeling full and inspired

This #waybackwednesday, we are proud to look back at a defining moment for our organization. In 2015, we received the LUMIE Award for Best Emerging Arts Organization from the Tucson Pima Arts Council. This incredible milestone recognized: Our 3-year "Dancing the Mural" project 5 years of multidisciplinary arts programming for the Tucson and South Tucson communities A special thank you to our founder, Yvonne Montoya, and the 2015 Safos board for their visionary leadership and

Building community starts with meaningful connection. Today, we are playing our favorite company icebreaker: Two Truths and a Lie: Stories from Home edition! Join in on the fun and see if you can spot the lie among our statements: Stories from Home began rehearsals in 2018 began rehearsals in 2018. The dance Pajarito references historical context excluded from the hollywood film Oppenheimer. Stories from Home did not tour to all of the Four Corner states last fall. Let us kn

Dance students, are you looking to gain real-world experience in arts administration this summer? Safos Dance Theatre is offering a summer internship to teach you the ins and outs of running a dance non-profit. Join our collaborative community and help support our mission of supporting dance in the Southwest. Remote and flexible schedule Hands-on non-profit management experience Class credit only Message us directly or email our admin assistant Megan megan@yvonnemontoya.co f

I’m so honored to be in residence with the Colorado College Department of Theatre & Dance for this year’s Dance6. This weekend, we gather for “Of Earth and Error” Join us for an evening of embodied questions and quiet revelations, where movement traces the fault lines between environment and self.  During this residency, I’ve had the joy of creating a Southwest-inspired work with these incredible students. The program also includes two iconic works by pioneering Mexican-Ameri

STORIES FROM HOME Presented by California State University San Marcos Arts & Lectures Join Safos Dance Theatre for Stories from Home, an evening-length dance work embodying the oral traditions of Nuevomexicano, Chicano, and Mexican American communities of the American Southwest.  Friday, March 13 | 7:00 - 8:30 PM California State University San Marcos Stories from Home is both intimate and expansive, honoring specific family histories while reflecting broader cultural traditi

#WayBackWednesday Dancing the Mural / Color the Mural was a two-year collaboration between Safos Dance Theatre and the House of Neighborly Service (HNS), from March 2013 - March 2015 under the direction of Yvonne Montoya. Phase I: 264 South Tucson community members voted on the theme and design of a mobile mural. Phase II: 290 community members (ages 0–88!) painted the mural during Safos' eight Community Paint Days. Phase III: Site specific dance theater performances at HNS b

Safos shared moments from Stories from Home through dance, storytelling, and luminaria making at their second appearance at Phoenix Art Museum. This past December, Safos Dance Theatre got invited back to present work at First Friday. From stage to luminaria, kids and families joined us in creating a piece of Yvonne Montoya's home in New Mexico. ✨ A heartfelt thank you to everyone who danced, created and dreamed with us. A big thank you to Phoenix Art Museum for having us twic

Pandemic Motherhood is now out. Turn to Chapter 16 to read my contribution. I wrote this chapter to document the long, difficult, and deeply joyful days of working as a dance artist while mothering at home during the pandemic. Like so many artist-parents, I was balancing Zoom school, supporting my family, holding space for company dancers and administrators, and transitioning an entire creative practice online all at once. In the midst of quarantine, my son and I created toge

This winter, I’m honored to be a Visiting Artist at Colorado College, creating new work with students and communities across Colorado. The process unfolds in studios, classrooms, and community spaces. Working with dancers in Pueblo at El Centro Cultural Quinto Sol, and in collaboration with local community leaders in Colorado Springs. Rooted in land and lived experience, the work asks:"Who are we when the piñon trees vanish?" Grateful for the students, collaborators, and comm