Flamenco dancer and percussionist, born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He began his artistic formation on April 2006, with Antonio Santaella, dancer and choreographer from Granada, Spain. Since December 2006, Monge worked in various “tablaos” of the capital city; including “Barrachina”, “El Chotis”, “Divino Bocadito”, “Casa BotÃn”, “Bar Gitano” and “El Mesón La Guitarra”.
In 2007, Ronaldo became a member of the flamenco company Mozaico Almudéjar, directed by Antonio Santaella, in which he performed at various festivals and musical scenic plays, to name a few:
“El Crimen fue en Granada”; Francisco Arrivà Theater, Santurce – Nov, 2007
“Flamenco en Nuestra Sangre”; Raúl Juliá Theater, MAPR, Santurce – June, 2008
– Politechnic University Theater, Hato Rey – April, 2008
– Sol Theater, San Germán –– March, 2009
– Yag?ez Theater, Mayag?ez – Nov, 2009
“Semana Internacional de la Danza”; Francisco Arrivà Theater, Santurce – May, 2009
– Francisco Arrivà Theater, Santurce – May, 2010
– Centro of Bellas Artes, Santurce – June, 2011
“La Pasión del Flamenco…Tradición, Encuentro y Cultura Nuestra”
“Noche de Flamenco y PoesÃa”, Ateneo Puertorriqueño, San Juan – June, 2010
“Réquiem por Federico GarcÃa Lorca”, José A.Giovannetti Theater, Yauco – Feb, 2011
– Raúl Juliá Theater, MAPR, Santurce – May, 2010
– Raúl JuliáTheater, MAPR,Santurce – June, 2011
In January 2010, he co-produced the show “Entre la Ida y la Vuelta” on Nuyorican Café, Old San Juan, with dancers Vivian Bruckman and “La Coralillo”. These were Sold Out shows and it marked the beginning of the flamenco company “La CompañÃa”. Along with the company, Monge performed in various venues (e.g. Ponce Art Museum) and together they co-produced another show on Febraury 2011 called “De Tablao… La Pasión del Flamenco”, at the Bóveda Triana on the Old San Juan.
In July 2011, he relocated to the great city of Chicago, IL, and immediately merge into the flamenco scene, becoming part of Chiara Mangiameli’s Ensemble. He has also performed as a soloist and made guest artist appearances with ensembles like Las Guitarras de España, Spanish Guitar, El Payo and Guitarra Azul, as well as in other states like Flamenco Sur, California:
“Evening of Music and Dance”, Skokie Theater, Skokie, IL – Dec, 2011
“A Través del Espejo”, Vittum Theater, Chicago, IL – May, 2012
Brookdale College, New Jersey – Oct, 2012
La Gran Tapa, San Diego, California – Dec, 2012
Penn State University, Erie, PA – Sept, 2013
Chicago Flamenco Festival, Chicago, IL – Feb, 2014
His dance education include San Juan, PR; San Diego, CA; Sevilla, ES; Chicago, IL; and the Flamenco Festival of Albuquerque, NM: with such artists like Jossette Reily, Cihitli Ocampo “La Gillardi”, Juan de los Reyes, “El Torombo”, “Farruquito”, Carmen Ledesmas, Carmela Greco, Vida Peral, Miguel Vargas, Jose Barrios, Rafael Campallo, Alfonso Losa, Olga Pericet, Jeanne D’arc Casas and Chiara Mangiameli.
Ronaldo is currently living in Chicago, IL and performs in monthly venues like Café BaBaReeba, BulerÃas Tapas and Bordel. To make sure you have Ronaldo Monge’s latest performance schedule, follow him on Facebooktoday.
Photography by Steve Hudson
