Yvonne Montoya
Choreographer. Writer. Speaker. Mother.

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

✨2025 Tour✨ 🙏Deep gratitude for the artists, presenters, collaborators, and communities who made Stories from Home possible. 💛 Every step carries memory. Every performance builds connection. 🌵 We’re excited to keep sharing these stories, reach out if you’d like to bring Stories from Home to your community.

I want to introduce you to Lucy Salazar, a Master Teacher and Dance Elder whose presence, knowledge, and generosity have shaped generations of dancers in the Southwest. These images capture Lucy leading Bailes de Salón de Nuevo México alongside the musicians Tíos Míos, which took place last August in Albuquerque, NM. Being in the room learning, listening, and moving alongside her was a powerful reminder that these dances live through shared experience and care. Grateful to wi

Yvonne Montoya's article titled, Disappearing Dances: Los Bailes de Salón de Nuevo México, was featured in Stance on Dance. This article highlights the work of master teacher and culture bearer Lucy Salazar. Salazar is single handedly trying to save Los bailes de salón de Nuevo México, or the folk dances from New Mexico from disappearing. Read more about it here !