Dancing since before I could walk, I am a choreographer /dancer, actor/writer. My Great GrandFather said I would jump up on his coffee table, dance, and sing at the slightest sound of music, anything from a song being played,  to a commercial tune to playing in a passing car.

 

As a very young child, I was seen dancing by Katherine Dunham, who said I looked and danced like Maya Deren. Since finding out who Maya Deren was as a choreographer and filmmaker, I have been inspired to combine my dance choreography in a variety of forms with acting in my filmmaking.

 

I have danced my own choreography in theaters in Philadelphia, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. Recently, in addition, I have begun acting in films. 

 

My dance training began at five years old, and mainly has been modern dance May O'Donnell lineage and a ballet Lineage from Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Since I was small by chance, all my teachers were people who danced or studied with dancers from Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.

 

I am Puerto Rican, Irish, Native American, and Italian, which makes me very open to a variety of perspectives. My cultures inform my art in that I want to connect all types of people. To help give a voice to the silent.  And to bring compassion and understanding where there is discord and isolation. Or simply on a dark day to bring people a sense of joy.

 

My undergrad is in Dance Performance specializing in choreography. In my current Masters's program, under the guidance of Diane Baker, I completed studies in a two-year Meisner Technique program. Currently, I am in graduate school getting two consecutive Masters. My first Graduate degree is an MFA in film acting, my second degree will be in screenwriting. In a program run, and overseen by Diane Baker at the Academy of Art University. Currently, I study ballet at Berkeley Ballet Theater, with Sally Streets. Currently, I am applying to Performance studies Ph.D. programs.  I will study how performing transforms me, and others in a healthy way, joyful way!

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Cheers,

rita alicia marqués