A B O U T

Merli Guerra is a professional dancer and interdisciplinary artist. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Mount Holyoke College with a B.A. in Dance and Studio Art, and currently resides in the Greater Boston area.

Guerra’s studies in dance first began with ballet at the age of six, which eventually led to becoming a senior company member of the Commonwealth Ballet in Acton, Mass through 2005. While a dance major at Mount Holyoke College, Guerra’s training grew to include modern and classical Indian dance, as well as jazz, Irish step, African, partnering and contradance. In 2007, Guerra toured the western coast of India to better her understanding of the Orissi style and the cultural history of Indian arts as a whole. Later that year, she performed as a guest artist in Mudra: The Gesture Speaks under Guru and Director Ranjanaa Devi. Since then, she has continued her training of Orissi dance and is now a member of Devi’s company Nataraj Dancers. Last year, she joined the company on their 2009 Japan Tour, performing in Tokyo with Kitanodai Gagakukai. Now in 2010, she continues to perform with the company at various American universities and performing arts centers on a regular basis.

Guerra’s work as an interdisciplinary artist began taking form in 2008 with the creation of her film Synchronic. With no prior background in film or video editing, Guerra was surprised when the film won Best Dance on Camera, Best of Mount Holyoke, and Best of Fest at the Five College Film Festival in 2009. Since then, she has continued her work with video projection and live performance, presenting pieces that explore the duality of existing both physically as well as through projected video, and creating subtle narrative through surreal illuminated walls.

Now in the Boston area, Guerra currently studies under Wendy Jehlen through the Dance Complex in Cambridge, and has been invited to teach introductory Orissi and creative movement classes at venues such as The Boys & Girls Club of Boston. She is excited to be dancing in the Cambridge area, and welcomes opportunities to collaborate with local performing and visual artists.