DejaJoelle is a multi-disciplinary artist based in the Twin Cities. She uses dance, poetry, song and theater to discover and explore the many bridges to and from Black America and Africa. She has trained in dance with masters from West Africa (Mali, Senegal, Guinea) and pulls from other dance forms such as modern and contemporary to convey thoughts and processes. Deja strongly believes that both the artist and observer hold power in the act of viewing. She does not believe in "performance", but instead uses the word "observance" to describe the viewing of her work. She is committed to exploring the juxtaposition of safety and vulnerability.