The Medina Movement Collective is rooted in a deep curiosity to understand the complex layers of resilience, connection, and restoration through dance and movement. Founded in 2022, the collective is led by Julio Medina. The collective is grounded by the Mexica (Aztec) tonalli (symbol) for movement, called Ollin, which also means earthquake.
MMC is based in Atlanta and has presented work such as “desahogo//undrown” a dance work that explored boxing and martial arts as practices of restoration and healing, showcasing a stunning cast of Atlanta’s best dancers. In addition, MMC premiered “Return: de Vuelta a los ancestros,” a love letter and reshaping of Medina’s Mexican heritage, taking inspiration from the legend of the five suns in Mesoamerican mythology. Iterations of these works have been presented in the Vancouver International Dance Festival (2024), NE/X Festival (2024, the Modern Atlanta Dance Festival (2025) and the Texas Latina/o/x Contemporary Dance Festival (2026).
Julio Medina…
…is the director of Medina Movement Collective. He is Professor of Dance at Emory University and previously at California State University, Long Beach. He creates both professional and student works.
I am a dancer and choreographer who engages in autoethnographic dance as a ritual of bodily restoration and spiritual connectivity. As a first-generation Chicano from south Los Angeles, I aim to discover and re-connect an identity that has been erased, hidden, or forgotten due to colonialism. I am an indigenous Mexican American, reclaiming my ancestral heritage. My creations and performances serve as a conduit for audiences to expand on their own identities and narratives.
Dancing…
…professionally since 2011, Julio has performed for a wide range of choreographers and companies both nationally and internationally. He has also performed self-choreographed solo work at a variety of festivals around the United States and Canada.
Photo credit across website to Shannel Resto, Gianna Mercandetti, Francisco Graciano, Lori Teague, Ian Douglas, Gregory R. R. Crosby, Catmax Photography, and Sorcha Augustine.