Dance for a Dollar — Milagro Theatre’s upcoming show — opens its doors to the public May 2-25. In this new dance/theatre presentation, dance and theatre work together to tell stories about the internal sanctuaries and the search for joy. Presented in English. We recommend this play for ages 12 and older.
Recently, Stefanus Gunawan, Marketing Assistant, had the opportunity to chat with Alex Leigh Ramirez, one of the many talented performer/actress for Dance for a Doller. In this round of interviews, Alex ventures into her experience in theatre, her passion for the arts, her role in Dance for a Dollar and most importantly, herself. Hula Hoop anyone?
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Hello Alex. Welcome to Milagro Theatre. Before we begin, can you tell us a little bit
about yourself? Your history and experience in theatre?
about yourself? Your history and experience in theatre?
Hi! My name is Alex Leigh Ramirez,
and I am 25. I love hula hooping,
hiking, and my dog, Bobby. I am an actor
and performance artist here in Portland.
I graduated three years ago from Lewis and Clark College where I majored
in Theatre Performance. In 2011-12, I
was an acting apprentice with Portland Playhouse Theatre in NE; where I was
able to do administrative work, helped run different aspects of the season, did
an understudy, and received training from Playhouse staff members. I am also currently an Outreach intern with
Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA), as I am building my arts administrative career alongside my performance career.
and I am 25. I love hula hooping,
hiking, and my dog, Bobby. I am an actor
and performance artist here in Portland.
I graduated three years ago from Lewis and Clark College where I majored
in Theatre Performance. In 2011-12, I
was an acting apprentice with Portland Playhouse Theatre in NE; where I was
able to do administrative work, helped run different aspects of the season, did
an understudy, and received training from Playhouse staff members. I am also currently an Outreach intern with
Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA), as I am building my arts administrative career alongside my performance career.
What brought you to Oregon?
Growing up I would spend my summers
in Ashland Oregon with a childhood friend, and we wouldoften take trips to
Portland. I fell in love with the Oregon
scenery, the arts scene, and yes, even the weather. College brought me to
Portland, and I never left!
in Ashland Oregon with a childhood friend, and we wouldoften take trips to
Portland. I fell in love with the Oregon
scenery, the arts scene, and yes, even the weather. College brought me to
Portland, and I never left!
Where have you acted in Portland? Any memorable productions?
In my time in Portland, I have
worked with companies including: Working Theatre Collective, Compass
Repertory, Post 5 Theatre, Water in the Desert, and Portland Playhouse. Three of my favorite productions
include: Midsummer Nights’ Dream with Post 5 Theatre
(Titania), Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson with Portland
Playhouse (Female Ensemble) and Romeo and Juliet at Franklin High
school—part of the Fall Festival of Shakespeare which I co-directed.
worked with companies including: Working Theatre Collective, Compass
Repertory, Post 5 Theatre, Water in the Desert, and Portland Playhouse. Three of my favorite productions
include: Midsummer Nights’ Dream with Post 5 Theatre
(Titania), Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson with Portland
Playhouse (Female Ensemble) and Romeo and Juliet at Franklin High
school—part of the Fall Festival of Shakespeare which I co-directed.
This is your first time working at Milagro Theatre, can you tell us a little bit how it is going so far?
I have wanted to work with Milagro
for a couple of years now, and I can’t tell you how lucky I feel to be cast in Dance
for a Dollar. I am half Mexican, and
I have always struggled to find my own personal connection to my cultural
heritage; it has been so important for me to explore and discover that
connection through the art form that I hold dear to my heart. I hope to continue to work with Milagro in
the future, I admire them so much as a company, what they do for the community,
and the art that they produce.
for a couple of years now, and I can’t tell you how lucky I feel to be cast in Dance
for a Dollar. I am half Mexican, and
I have always struggled to find my own personal connection to my cultural
heritage; it has been so important for me to explore and discover that
connection through the art form that I hold dear to my heart. I hope to continue to work with Milagro in
the future, I admire them so much as a company, what they do for the community,
and the art that they produce.
Let’s talk about Dance for a
Dollar. You play an important character–which I will not say who, and it means that the public will just have to come and watch show to find out. Can you explain more about your role?
Dollar. You play an important character–which I will not say who, and it means that the public will just have to come and watch show to find out. Can you explain more about your role?
Yes, in Dance for a Dollar I
play the—come and watch Dance for a Dollar May 2-25 to find out her character. I see her as helping to
control the environment and the experience of Las Palmas through her
music. She is unique from the other
women in that she is not a dancer, so to a certain extent she is on the outside
looking in, watching these other stories unfold from a distance; which is an
interesting place to be, considering she is hiding her sexuality, which feels
very isolating. Through most of the play
she is an upbeat force who is encouraging the festive mood of the dance hall,
but as she shares with the audience later: «There is a lot of pretending
around here. I pretend I am happy all
the time.»
play the—come and watch Dance for a Dollar May 2-25 to find out her character. I see her as helping to
control the environment and the experience of Las Palmas through her
music. She is unique from the other
women in that she is not a dancer, so to a certain extent she is on the outside
looking in, watching these other stories unfold from a distance; which is an
interesting place to be, considering she is hiding her sexuality, which feels
very isolating. Through most of the play
she is an upbeat force who is encouraging the festive mood of the dance hall,
but as she shares with the audience later: «There is a lot of pretending
around here. I pretend I am happy all
the time.»
The cast for Dance for a Dollar is
superb, talented, and experienced, how has that helped you in your growth as a performer?
superb, talented, and experienced, how has that helped you in your growth as a performer?
Being able to work with this cast
has been such an incredible experience, they are all so talented, and such
delightful people. I am learning so much
from them, about myself as a performer and about their methods. I came into this production with no real
dance experience, but both the cast and Daniel have created such a safe, fun,
and exciting environment that I feel able to play and dance; they are teaching
me how to «shake it» Mexican style!
has been such an incredible experience, they are all so talented, and such
delightful people. I am learning so much
from them, about myself as a performer and about their methods. I came into this production with no real
dance experience, but both the cast and Daniel have created such a safe, fun,
and exciting environment that I feel able to play and dance; they are teaching
me how to «shake it» Mexican style!
To your adoring fans, what would you like to say?
I would say: come and see this show,
it has been a blast to work on, the cast is incredible, and I think this
production is saying something important about immigrant culture. I look forward to seeing you in the theatre
and talking to you afterwards!
it has been a blast to work on, the cast is incredible, and I think this
production is saying something important about immigrant culture. I look forward to seeing you in the theatre
and talking to you afterwards!