Dancer. Choreographer.
Director.
Sierra Don (She/They) is a Dancer, Director, Choreographer, and Professor established in San Francisco and Los Angeles, CA. Don earned her Bachelor’s in Theatre Arts - Dance with a minor in Child Development at California State University, Fresno. She then earned her MFA in Performance Theory & Choreography at Mills College in Oakland, CA. Sierra was the recipient of the Teaching Assistant Award for her teaching pedagogy focus and was chosen as the choreographer to represent both Mills and CSU, Fresno at the American College Dance Association. After graduating she launched her multidisciplinary dance collective focused on providing a healing platform for trauma in women while celebrating diversity (Mogli’s Movers in 2018).
Since, Sierra Don has trained professionally with Jose Limon Co., Trisha Brown Co., Isadora Duncan Co., CONTRA TIEMPO, Robert Moses Kin, Ground Grooves, and many more while expanding on her career in education as Dance Professor at Hussian College, Site Director at American Musical and Dramatic Arts (AMDA), and Director/Program Manager with Kidstock, Inc.
Choreography
As a modern floorwork dancer, Sierra’s movement principles are deeply rooted in the fusion of her Afro-Latin training and contemporary choreographic styles. Her movement principles embody a holistic approach to movement, placing a strong emphasis on the support of the spine, breathwork, and the release of muscles.
Don’s choreographic style is characterized by athleticism, musicality, and elegance, creating a powerful yet graceful presence on the stage. The uniqueness of her movement vocabulary lies in its ability to seamlessly blend diverse styles, collaborating with artists of many cultures, backgrounds, and skills; resulting in a dynamic and engaging performance that defies conventional boundaries.
In addition to the physicality of Sierra’s choreography, she weaves a meditative quality into her movements. This intentional inclusion invites the audience into a contemplative space, allowing them to connect with the performance on a deeper, introspective level. Within their dance work, Sierra embeds crucial social statements, using their art as a medium to convey messages that resonate with contemporary issues and societal concerns.