About
Deja Darbonne is a Miami-based performing artist, choreographer, and movement teacher whose work bridges classical tradition with contemporary expression. She began dancing at age four in her mother’s ballet studio, Center Stage (later Darbonne Academy of the Arts), and expanded her artistry through competitive and commercial dance in Suisun City, CA.
Deja earned the Miami Dade College Dance Award in 2015 for academic excellence and graduated with honors from New World School of the Arts and the University of Florida with a BFA in Dance in 2017.
She is the co-founder of Syncopate Collective, where she performs, choreographs, and manages operations. Her choreographic works—Philautia, Sun Down, and Joyce—have been featured at Cuban Classical Ballet’s Choreographer Showcase, and her latest duet, Resolve, premiered at Syncopate Collective’s 2024 Winter Solstice Performance. Currently, she is developing a new work exploring the natural world and the Eastern philosophy of reincarnation.
Deja has danced professionally with Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami, performing in productions such as The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Paquita, and Esmeralda, and with companies including Ballet Hispanico II, Ruddur Dance, Peter London Global Dance Company, Dance Now Miami, National Water Dance Project, OCA Dance, Ruddur Dance, and, Zest Collective.
She was featured in HBO’s music special Goyo: En Letra de Otro, showcasing Afro-Latin cultural dances alongside Grammy Award-winning artist Gloria Emilse Martinez (“Goyo”) of ChocQuibTown.
Deja has worked with renowned choreographers including Greg Chapkis, Robert Battle, Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa, Ronald K. Brown, Talley Beatty, Gustavo Ramirez, Jamar Roberts, Eduardo Vilaro, Rena Butler, and Melissa Verdecia.
As an educator, she teaches ballet at Miami Dance Collective, Armour Dance Theater, and Artistic Dance Center, empowering young dancers to explore their artistic voices within a highly technical form.
Repetoire
Dive into the Deja’s collection of dances, choreographies, and works, showcasing her artistry and ability to perform.
Are you ready to take your yoga practice to the next level? Whether you are a beginner looking to build a strong foundation or an experienced yogi wanting to refine your technique, private yoga lessons offer personalized guidance tailored just for you.
Deja Darbonne recieved her 200-hour yoga teacher training certification in December of 2020 (Certified by Yoga Alliance and RYS-500 ULU Yoga).
Currently, Darbonne is working on her Comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training through Polestar Pilates. She is expected to receive her pilates certification by summer of 2025.
Move With Deja
Kael Baez
“ I took a private yoga class with Deja and it was by far one of the best yoga experiences I’ve ever had. She leads the class with professionalism and patience, I felt comfortable and relaxed the whole time.
Deja is a kind and caring teacher, after her class I felt very peaceful. I would recommend to everyone. 10/10!”
Asia W.
“ I invest in private sessions with Deja and it’s the best. She knows the basics of yoga but also is fluid in sharing the spiritual and higher connections that are possible in practice. We did chakra training over the course of 7 weeks and it was great to have a teacher meet me at my current stage and still encourage me to challenge myself.”
Deborah Holt Butcher
“Oh my goodness!!!—My students and I loved this class They kept asking for more. It was a wonderful addition to our distance learning and it really gave my students something to look forward to.
Miss Darbonne was very accommodating to student spaces at home and she built relationships with them over the computer. My students loved Miss Darbonne and they loved learning new yoga poses. She taught them to listen to their bodies and to breathe. She taught them how to move and not be intimidated. Even the most shy student participated—Even I participated.
My kids are in first grade—I was very impressed with her teaching skills for younger students. We really miss her.”
