Djassi DaCosta Johnson (stylized djassi daCosta johnson) is a dancer, choreographer,
photographer, filmmaker, anthropologist, writer, activist, designer and Doula. She is a
classically trained modern dancer who studied at the Harlem School of Arts, Ballet
Hispanico, Clark Center, and was a fellowship student at Alvin Ailey. djassi has
apprenticed, worked, and toured with international companies including MOMIX, Dance
Brazil, Earl Mosley, Bill T. Jones, Hernando Cortez, Ron Brown’s Evidence and Urban
Bush Women among others. She lived abroad working as a dancer and choreographer
in Brazil and in Italy for seven years working on TV and film. djassi’s choreography has
been displayed in fashion shows, music videos, international festivals, and films
including for ESSENCE, Nike, PNB Nation, Pandora Jewelry, and New York Fashion
Week for Isamar Designs and Studio189. djassi performs in collaboration with visual
artists and jazz musicians on live and video work and has created works with Eddie
Peak, Lia Chavez, Gloria Gaynor, Alice Walker and most recently performed for, and
with Joan Jonas for her Mirror Piece I & II at the MOMA in June 2024.

djassi holds a BA in Anthropology from Barnard and an MFA in Dance, New Media
and Technology from NYU Tisch, and is an Assistant Professor of Dance. She started the
first Bachelor of Arts Dance concentration program at the University of the Virgin Islands
in 2022 and choreographed the dance portion of the Opening Dedication Ceremony for
the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina in June 2023.
djassi writes in English and Italian about dance, art, culture, women’s issues and
highlights artists of color for KINFOLK, {DIYdancer}, Harvard Design Magazine, VIBE,
TRACE, Playbill, Dance Teacher, and Dance Magazine. Djassi helped implement the
modern dance program at Brooklyn Ballet in 2024, is currently an international judge &
master Horton teacher for YAGP and is a Metropolitan Opera dancer.