THIRSTY MIND, LOVE AND STARVATION SITTING IN A LONELY TREE

By Antonio Ramos and the Gang Bangers
June 2 - 5, 2016

Choreographer Antonio Ramos fabricates a gloriously chaotic performance from shiny lies, physical hyperbole and naked flesh in an attempt to find the glitter trail to truth. With an eye towards exposing the invisible marketplace – where transactions are made in bodies and paid for in program notes – Ramos and his six Gang Bangers present exaggerated and abstracted characters created from personal neuroses dredged up through the labor of “making things.” Peter Richard’s video installation frames the live event with evidence of drug-induced source material, surveillance of the performers’ transformations and debris from all tomorrow’s parties, putting into question what truths are currently valued in the making and performing of live dance.

PERFORMANCES:

Thursday - Saturday, June 2 - 4 at 8 PM and Sunday, June 5 at 3 pm

Dancers: Luke Miller, Rebecca Wender, Darrin Wright, Alvaro Gonzalez, Sarah White Ayón, Rennie Lachlan McDougall, Antonio Ramos

Music Composer: Miguel Gutierrez
Costumes: Claire Fleury
Set Design: Sam Gassman
Lighting Design: Amanda Ringger
Video Installation: Peter Richards

​Curated by Stacy Grossfield

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 Purchase College/SUNY. Antonio began his career performing with Ballet Theatre of Puerto Rico, Ballet Hispanico of New York, Ballet Concierto and Ballet Municipal (Puerto Rico). More recently, Antonio has performed with choreographers such as Mark Dendy, Neil Greenberg, Stephen Petronio, Merian Soto and Donna Uchizono, among others. His own choreography has been produced at numerous venues in New York City. Antonio was an Artist-in-Residence at El Museo del Barrio 2011-12. He was a 2011-12 National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures Award Recipient, and is currently a 2014 Movement Research Artist in Residence. Antonio is also a Licensed Massage Therapist, Zero Balancing Practitioner, and Watsu Practitioner. He is also a professional teacher of Awareness Through Movement and Functional Integration from The Feldenkrais Method®.

Photo by Miguel Anaya