Dances of Universal Peace International
Board of Directors

 


Darvesha Victoria MacDonald – President (Silver City, New Mexico email) has served as chair of the MTG Guidance Council since June 2007 and on the current DUP Interantional board of directors since January 2008. She was a member of the original DUP International board (then PeaceWorks INDUP) at the time of its inception in 1987. She has travelled extensively worldwide leading the Dances. Her major focus of the last ten years has been seeding the Dances in South America, particularly in Colombia, and encouraging local leadership and mentorship. A co-founder of Wilderness Dance Camp, Darvesha has spearheaded revision of the MTG guidelines, completed in 2010. Darvesha is a Sheikha in the Sufi Ruhaniat International, a Senior Mentor of the Dances of Universal Peace, a Ziraat Experienced Farmer, and a Buddhist practitioner. (Term ends April, 2014.)

 

 

 

 

Dianahita Diana Kanoy –Vice President (Ft. McCoy, Florida, USA, email) is a certified dance leader and mentor who hosts monthly dances at her Florida farm, Dancing Peacock Paradise (www.PeacockParadise.org). She presents leader training events, leads "outreach" dances and facilitates retreats featuring international DUP leaders. A guide in the Sufi Ruhaniat International, Dianahita presently conserves her land, caring for the animals and organic garden, attending dance and Sufi gatherings whenever possible. (Term ends April, 2015)

 

 

 

 

 

Kabir Stuart McKinnon – Treasurer/Secretary (Nelson, BC Canada email) is a certified dance leader, mentor-in-training, musician and a member of the Nelson BC dance team. He has co-organized dance camps and retreats in his region and served as leader and musician at many DUP gatherings. He has volunteered for DUP North America in transcribing and preparing Dance “write-ups”. Stuart brings to the DUP International board 30 years experience in administration and leadership from his career with the University of Calgary. He and his partner Mirabai Wolf Willow travel co-leading the Dances in British Columbia and Alberta in Canada. (Term ends April, 2014.)

 

 

 

 

Maitreya Jon Stevens (New Lebanon, New York email) is a dance leader and musician currently teaching 5th & 6th grade at Mountain Road School housed at the Abode of the Message in New Lebanon, New York. Maitreya has been active with young adult participation in the Dances of Universal Peace. He served on the young adult staff at Wilderness Dance Camp and as musician at the Mendocino Sufi Camp. A creative and inspiring teacher, Jon brings youthful energy and connection to the growing family of young people interested in the Dances. (Term ends April, 2013.)

 

 

 

 

Arjun Jorge Calero (Atlantida Ecovillage, Colombia email) was born in Colombia in 1978. Raised in close contact with nature and spiritual seeking, he finished his Biology studies in 2001 with a special degree in ethno-ecology. He has worked for years with local native communities and environmental groups in schools. He was part of the Rainbow Peace Caravan, a nomad ecovillage, school and artistic company, that traveled throughout latinamerica. In 2003 he co-founded Atlantida Ecovillage where he still resides and hosts 2 major DUP events every year. A Dance mentor, guitarist and Ruhaniat initiate, Arjun works actively with the ecovillage networks (national and continental) and the revival of the ancient wisdom of the Americas. (Term ends April, 2013.)

 

 

 

 

Executive Director

Munir Peter Reynolds (Corvallis, Montana email) Munir has served as Executive Director of DUP International since August, 2009. Munir holds an M.A. degree in arts administration, an M.A. in Culture and Creation Spirituality and has worked in various nonprofit organization managerial and administrative positions since 1976.  A Senior Mentor in the Mentors Guild and Sheikh for the Sufi Ruhaniat International, Munir served from 2002 -2010 as Executive Director of Oneness Project, a Dances of Universal Peace programming and grantmaking organization in the Pacific Northwest USA. For Oneness Project he administered grants programs supporting the Dances of Universal Peace world wide. As a mentor and leader Munir has presented Sufi and DUP retreats, dance leader trainings and camps throughout the western USA and has served on the staff of numerous events in the US, Canada, New Zealand and Russia.

 

 

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