About
Guillermo Ortega Tanus is the co-director of Da·Da·Dance Project (US-Mexico-Korea), a duet repertory company that has been presented at many International venues and Festivals, performing works by Elise Knudson, Helena Franzén, Luke Gutgsell, Gerald Casel, Eun Jung Choi and himself since 2008. Da·Da·Dance Project was recently selected to be part of Pennsylvania Arts on Tour (PENNPAT).
Mr. Ortega believes on the power of dance to communicate with other human beings in a deep level. For him, dance can be tradition but also constant innovation; for this reason he strives to invent original movement vocabularies for each dance he creates. He often combines theatricality with visual metaphors in his works.
Apart from Da·Da·Dance Project, he has presented solos at Dixon Place, Newsteps Series, Merce Cunningham Studio, Conwell Dance Theater, Chew the Fat! At Studio 34, Philly PARD at Mt-Vernon Dance Space, New Festival, and Tlacochimaco in U.S. And Foro Experimental, Fuego Nuevo, Los Talleres de Coyoacán, La Casa de Las Bombas in Mexico. He also has set work in Tatiana Zugazagoitia Danza (Merida, Mexico), and also the students of the Diploma in Dance of the Cultural Center “Los Talleres A. C.” (Mexico City). He 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 recipient of the “National Fund for the Culture and the Arts (FONCA), and the National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT), Student Scholarship” 2009-2011. Last year he received an “Artistic Achievement Award in Performing Arts” by Golden Key International Honour Society. Both as performer and creator, Guillermo has received grants from: National Fund for the Culture and the Arts (2007-08), (2009-10); 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 has been a resident artist at nEW festival (2009-10). The National Council of the Culture and Arts, and the Mexican Cultural Institute of New York has supported him.
Mr. Ortega is also pursuing an MFA in Dance at Temple University. He works at the Conwell Dance Theater as a Graduate Assistant under the supervision of Nanette Joyce. He has designed lights for many dance artists in the Philadelphia area over the last two years. He has teach Dance Production at Temple University and also Dance classes at Rowan University, nEW festival, and in several cities in Mexico.