Antonio Ramos

Choreographer, US

Antonio Ramos was born and raised in Puerto Rico where he trained in jazz, salsa and African dance. He later received a B.F.A. in Dance from SUNY Purchase. Antonio began his career performing with Ballet Theatre of Puerto Rico, Ballet Hispanico of New York, Ballet Concierto and Ballet Municipal (PR). His choreography has been produced at Hostos College, The Kitchen, New York Live Arts, Dance Theater Workshop, SUNY Purchase, BAAD!, Dixon Place, P.S. 122, Joe’s Pub, Danspace Project, Lexington Center for the Arts NY, DanceNow Downtown, Princeton University, Movement Research, BAX, Galapagos Art and Performance Space, Williamsburg Art Nexus, Fringe Festival 2000 at Theatre La Chappelle, The Painted Bride, Cornell University and CPR. Recently, he presented work at the American Realness Festival at the Abrons Arts Center and was commissioned to present the world premiere of his latest work Almodovar Dystopia at Dixon Place in Manhattan. Antonio is also a Licensed Massage Therapist, Zero Balancing, and Watsu Practitioner and a certified instructor-practitioner in The Feldenkrais Method.

Learn more: www.antoniodance.com

El Pueblo de los Olvidados (The Village of the Forgotten)

El Pueblo de los Olvidados ("The Village of the Forgotten") a performance in the genre of science-fiction, prompted by my research about Puerto Rico in the wake of natural disaster—Hurricane Maria. The narrative of this work sees the protagonist, Tony Tacon, returning to his native planet to discover the country’s devastation under the colonization by the alien species, FIMA. Beyond being repurposed as a spot for resting and rejuvenation, Puerto Rico hosts a base for a top-secret laboratory where the invaders develop a powerful new weapon that has the ability to extract water from other planets, leaving devastating droughts in its wake. FIMA’s efforts further complicate matters as the infusion of alien flora and fauna gives rise to a new, diverse, trans-sexual species with multiple mammaries and sexual organs. In this new environment, Tony Tacon has no choice but to leave his glorious glitter shell and reinvent themselves with Nature. The appeal of the exotic new land spreads to other planets. Unfortunately, the new Puerto Rico remains undetectable on navigation systems, due to FIMA’s supremacy spell which envelops the island in impossibly thick fog—so thick, that incoming vessels, including rescue ships, enter the cloud and forever disappear within. In the midst of all the hardship, a ray of light emerges as Tony Tacon discovers a secret weapon under his rapidly growing cloud of hair,that helps the native people understand the spell they had fallen into.

Antonio Ramos was in residence at Camargo from October 8 to November 5, 2018 (in partnership with the Jerome Foundation and Movement Research).