Donna Mejia Choreography: The Private Rapture of Mary Magdalene

Performed March 2009 for the Five College Dance Department Faculty Concert hosted by Hampshire College. This excerpt draws from a larger thesis work reinterpreting portraits of the femme fatale in performance. This segment re-visions the private, inner life of Mary Magdalene. Research for this work included review of 6 different translations/interpretations of The Gospel of Mary, also known as the Berlin Codex. This document was found buried in Akhmim, Egypt and was lost until January of 1896. Once translated from its Coptic language, its revelations (incomplete and partially destroyed) instigated intense theological debate about the role of Mary Magdalene and the founding principles/intentions of Christianity. This dance explores the alternative scholarship surrounding the inferred intimate relationship of Mary (Miriam) and Jesus (Yeshua)—both as adepts in esoteric exploration and visionaries regarding the evolutionary potential of human form. The score is a Byzantine nativity hymn attributed to the 4th century Church of Antioch and sung in Arabic. The astonishing and remarkable vocalist is Sister Maria Keyrouz. Disclosure: I am not Christian and this work is an academic and historic exploration--not intended to convey or insult religiosity. To those who cherish Christianity as a personal path please accept my esteemed deference. My full gratitude to family, friends, students and colleagues—thank you.

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