Founders' Biographies

 Dania Hunter is a lifelong dance educator, studio owner, and community leader whose career has been shaped by a deep commitment to youth development through the arts. Through years of teaching, mentoring, and leading dancers from early childhood through graduation, she witnessed firsthand how access, opportunity, and support can change the trajectory of a young person’s life. Those experiences—combined with her passion for education, service, and cultural impact—ultimately inspired her to establish the Dance & Movement Foundation as a natural extension of the work she has been doing for her dancers and families for years. 

 Miguel Zagal is an accomplished choreographer and educator born in Colombia, whose personal journey has deeply shaped his commitment to mentorship and opportunity through dance. When he arrived in Texas 3 years ago, Miguel experienced firsthand how guidance, mentorship and encouragement from warm-hearted individuals can transform a person’s life. That pivotal chapter, combined with his experience working with young dancers from diverse backgrounds, inspired him to co-found the Dance & Movement Foundation as a way to pay forward the impact that good faith and support can create. 

 Marysa Santillana brings a deeply personal and global perspective to the Dance & Movement Foundation, shaped by her own experiences with hardship and resilience. Having benefited from the opportunities and support found in the United States, she is driven by a strong desire to give back to the country and community that have given so much to her.  Witnessing how the philanthropy of others positively impacted her own children has further reinforced her commitment to paying that generosity forward through the Foundation.