Dance Department

Donna Oefinger

Owner of Center Space Studio in SE Portland Oregon, teaches Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian, Samba, House, Hip Hop, Hustle, Popping and Afro-Cuban Hip Hop. Donna has been a professional dance instructor and choreographer since 1999. As a teacher, Donna is known for her enthusiasm, passion, and the respect she has for the origin of these dances. Her classes are a work out and challenge people of all levels of experience. As an artist she inspires and supports her students to further embody movement, not just imitate form. Donna has performed in a handful of groups as a dancer, director and percussionist since 1999 including Up Jump, Jujuba, The Lions of Batucada, Urban Ritual, and her group Axé Didé music and Dance Company. As the artistic director of Axé Didé Donna masterfully combines rhythms and dances mainly from Cuba and Brazil but also from the diverse lineages of the African Diaspora.