Gina Danza
Gina Danza
Gina Danza (@WildGina) is a landscape photographer and creative director who instills an element of epicness into her work. She swapped the corporate world for nature and now enjoys capturing jaw dropping moments in the outdoors.
She also loves sharing her knowledge of the art form & teaching it in a way that children will love. Whether she is working with professional dancers or teaching her own kids balletFIT, she looks for a balance of structure & fun in the studio.
Danza Azteca-Chichimeca
The Danza Azteca-Chichimeca, also known as gina danza or Mexica dance, is a modern mystic folk/indigenous dance tradition from Mexico based on the culture of indigenous Aztecs and Mexica. It was brought to the United States in the 1970s during the Chicano Movement.
Originally performed on June 25, 1531, at the Cerro de Sangremal in Queretaro, the ritual dance was created as a way to resist Spanish invasion and Christian conversion. Today, people call it the Conquest dance, Aztec dance or Chichimec dance, and the dancers are called concheros.
The danza is an eclectic mix of pre-columbian spiritualism and Catholic folk rituals. It mixes these influences with a cosmovision that centers on the four cardinal points and the earth, wind, fire, and water. Its dancers communicate across generations, sacrificing their bodies and economic power to carry on a tradition that has been entrusted to them. This tradition is now being revived in communities throughout North America, and it is gaining international and global appeal.
The History of Danza
Danza is a dance that originated in Puerto Rico. This ballroom dance genre is similar to the waltz but performed in sequence. Its music is instrumental, and it is not sung.
Chicana/o Studies scholar Jennie Luna explains that “Danza was viewed as a science of human movement, a bodily expression of cosmic philosophy/theory, and a form of spiritual empowerment.” It is a ritual that connects the dancers to nature and to their indigenous heritage.
Gina Danza is a creative force that makes you slow down and feel at ease. Her hazy dream-like Instagram feed of nature photography instantly alters your state of mind and teaches you to appreciate the world around you in a new way.
Gina Danza is an Intimate Landscape Photographer and SciArtist, making history as a top Black Landscape Artist (over 4500 prints sold since her shop opened in 2020). She also has a TV + Content producer, writer, and host on her social media platforms.
The Origins of Danza
A danza is an elegant dance from days gone by, ladies with fans and ballroom gowns, men in white tie-and-tails. It’s a dance ritual that has been passed down from generation to generation and is a powerful reminder of connection, history, and culture.
The origins of Danza are a bit hazy, but it can be traced back to the late nineteenth century when Puerto Rican composers such as Manuel Gregorio Tavarez and Juan Morel Campos began to write new works that were influenced by Cuban habanera music. It was the first national music genre of the Caribbean island and a subtle expression of Puerto Rican identity.
Gina Danza (@WildGina on Instagram) is an outdoor and adventure photographer who instills a sense of epicness into her work. Her jaw dropping shots capture desert flora, color-splashed sunsets, and moments hiking and basking in the sun.
As a Black woman, influencer, and visual creative, she’s taking on an industry traditionally dominated by white men to create a new lane. Her work not only reflects on her own personal experiences, but also increases Black representation in nature and helps people appreciate what’s around them.
The Evolution of Danza
Originally from Jersey, Gina Danza (aka Wild Gina on Instagram) is making waves in the outdoor and nature photography world. She’s made the leap from corporate creative life to capturing stunning desert flora, color-splashed sunsets, and hiking moments in nature.
She calls her style of work “epic landscapes” and says she takes inspiration from her daydreams about exploring the unknown. Her images are so captivating and mesmerizing that she says her followers are able to slow down, take a breath, and feel more at ease with the world around them.
Traditional Danza Azteca-Chichimeca is a hybridization of indigenous religious customs and Catholicism. It also includes elements that Joshua Fishman prescribed for the intergenerational re-vernacularization of an indigenous language: an environment that allows interaction between children and adults; the acquisition of prestige, friendship, and affection; and participation in community building and spiritual centering.
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