NEWS | INFO
“September 15 through October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize the contributions of people of Hispanic heritage to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. These dates were chosen because they coincide with national independence days in several South and Central American countries: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Chile.
In celebration, MMDG staff and dancers have compiled a list of artists and dance groups who inspire us.
Artists: Abdiel Figueroa Reyes, Andrea Guajardo, Carlos Falú, Daniel Fetecua Soto, Herman Cornejo, Javier Padilla, Luis Lara Malvacías, Monica Giavanna Douglas, Omar Román de Jesús, Oscar Antonio Rodriguez, Roman Mejia, Samantha Chapa“
Photography by Charles Roussel
“Dancers Lila Simmons and Oscar Rodriguez perhaps disclosed one side of Edward and Josephine’s dynamics in Lavagnino’s fourth vignette of Office at Night (1940)…. In the scene, Rodriguez portrayed a solemn businessman at a translucent desk, in the twilight of a late working afternoon. Himself and a woman, likely his secretary, entered a rigid tango as they grappled with the professional implications of their affair. And in one moment, our great passions had become a dance with ourselves, on ghost flights with masks, and in cars driving Purelled steering wheels.“
by Maxine Flasher-Duzgunes – ibtwnmag (Click to read full article)
Photography by Luciernaga Producciones
“Oscar Rodriguez is a Venezuelan-born, Costa Rican-raised, New York-based dancer. After an already successful career back home, Rodriguez moved to New York to attend New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and obtained his Masters of Fine Arts in Dance. Dance Informa sat down with him to discuss what drove him to get his MFA when already an established artist, and where it’s taken him.”
by Holly Laroche – Dance Informa Magazine (click to read full article)
Photography by Short North Stage
Rodriguez returns to Short North Stage to be part of Saturday Night Fever as Ensemble and Salsation choreographer
“Choreographer Oscar Rodriguez, meanwhile, drives the Latin beat in “Salsation,” making the pivotal penultimate dance competition credible along with Tony’s conviction that Cesar (Jon Yepez) and Maria Huerta (Gabriela Selino) truly deserved to win.”
by Michael Grossberg – The Columbus Dispatch (click to read full article)
“Special attention should be paid to the climactic dance to Salsation (a David Shire instrumental from the original) by Jon Yepez’s Cesar and Gabriela Selino’s Maria Huerta, choreographed by Oscar Rodriguez.”
by Richard Sanford – Columbus Underground (click to read full article)
Photography by Short North Stage
Oscar Antonio Rodriguez joins Short North Stage as Bernardo in their production of West Side Story
“Oscar Rodriguez projects visceral passion and proud masculinity as Bernardo, leader of the Sharks...”
by Michael Grossberg – The Columbus Dispatch (click to read full article)
BIO
Photography by Alejandro Armas | @westlaportraits
Rodriguez is a strong believer in the diversity and uniqueness that each artist brings into the creative process and the creation of a safe community where artists can feel safe to share thoughts, ideas and personal experiences.
Oscar Antonio Rodriguez was born and raised in Venezuela. After obtaining a degree in Mechanical Engineering, he moved to Costa Rica to pursue an MBA degree, where he discovered his passion for dance. He began his professional training at Warehouse Dance Complex in San Jose, Costa Rica. Since then, he has participated in the Chuthis Movement Intensive (Costa Rica), the b12 Dance Festival (Germany) and the VIM VIGOR Intensive (New York) where he received training from choreographers Helder Seabra, Luke Murphy, Judith Sánchez Ruíz, Shannon Guillen and Peter Chu.
Rodriguez received his MFA in Dance degree at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. As a member of the Second Avenue Dance Company he performed works by Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Christina Jane Robson and Jeremy Nelson.
In Costa Rica, Rodriguez performed in the Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica works from renowned choreographer Cristina Gigirey as a principal dancer with Danza ABEND. He appeared on Dancing with the Stars on Teletica— one of Costa Rica’s national broadcasts — as well as principal performer in the Holi One Color Festival Costa Rica. Theater Credits include: West Side Story x 2 (Bernardo, Pepe); In The Heights (Ensemble, Jose); Encores! The Life (Pre-Production Crew); Chicago (Ensemble, Fred Casely); Saturday Night Fever (Ensemble/Salsation Choreographer). He has performed in the DiMenna Center for Classical Music and the Radio City Music Hall, was featured in Steven Spielberg's remake of West Side Story, Rebecca Miller’s upcoming film She Came to Me, and in the production Dancing Through…, a virtual collaboration between Theatre Dance Vietnam and The Tank NYC. He currently dances with Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre.
His work has been featured in the Earl Mosley’s Dancing Beyond, A Benefit for Dance Against Cancer event at the Manhattan Movement Arts Center.
Rodriguez is represented by The Movement Talent Agency. In addition, he is an EMC Candidate and a proud member of SAG-AFTRA.
