Guillermo Ortega Tanus
- Photo Credit: Bill H.
A native of Mexico, Guillermo Ortega Tanus strives to invent original movement vocabularies for every dance he makes. He often combines theatricality with visual metaphors. Apart from Da·Da·Dance Project, he has presented solos at Dixon Place, Newsteps Series, the Merce Cunningham Studio, and Tlacochimaco in New York; and Foro Experimental, Fuego Nuevo, Los Talleres de Coyoacán, and La Casa de Las Bombas in Mexico.
Guillermo has danced for numerous companies and artists in both Mexico and the US, including UX Onodanza (Mexico), A Poc A Poc (Mexico), Eterno Caracol (Mexico), Kelly Nipper (LA), Miro Dance Theatre (Philly), David Gordon’s Pick Up Performance Co. (NY), Risa Jaroslow and Dancers (NY), Anonymous Bodies (Philly), and many others.
Currently, he is a resident artist at nEW festival and a recipient of the “National Fund for the Culture and the Arts, Student Scholarship.” Both as performer and creator, Guillermo has received grants from: National Fund for the Culture and the Arts (2007-08), Mexico en Escena (2005-06), the State Foundation of Culture and Arts (FOESCA 09-10), Mexican Institute of the Youth (2003-04), and the Secretary of Social Development (1997-98). He also has been supported by the National Council of the Culture and Arts and the Mexican Cultural Institute of New York.
Artist Statement: As a dancer/choreographer, I continuously challenge myself to discover different ways to create movement and investigate deeply into subject matters. My interests in music, poetry, theatre, performance, and literature have influenced me to explore the intersections between dance and the other art forms, including film, photography, installation, collage, etc. I like to play and ask myself questions to find momentary answers during the process even if they are not definitive answers. My inspiration often comes from 20th century visual art forms and human behaviors.
