Rujeko Dumbutshena

Rujeko Dumbutshena is an Assistant Professor at the School of Theatre + Dance, University of Florida. Her work focuses on neo-traditional and contemporary African dance, with research exploring the interplay of nature, gender, and power in Black Female ritual practices and performances. She is also affiliated with Duke University’s “Afro Feminist Performance Routes” cohort, a global network of Black femme dance artists.

• Former faculty positions include:
• University of Washington (Assistant Professor of Dance, BA revision committee)
• Central New Mexico Community College
• University of New Mexico
• Sarah Lawrence College
• Residencies at:
• Williams College
• University of Rochester

Her educational background includes an MFA in Dance from the University of New Mexico.

Rujeko’s research integrates cultural preservation, gender dynamics, and ritual aesthetics within African diasporic dance traditions. She critiques how power structures manifest in embodied practices, emphasizing Black women’s agency through movement and performance. Her pedagogical approach merges theoretical inquiry with experiential learning, reflecting her commitment to decolonizing dance education.

She has organized intensive African music and dance camps (Camp Mabina, Camp Tumbuka, Bantu Camp) for 16 years, featuring artists from seven African nations and the diaspora. These initiatives foster cross-cultural exchange and intergenerational knowledge transmission. She also guest teaches at conferences like Camp Fareta and Wassa Wassa, and has conducted cultural tours in southern Africa.