From Sacred Songs to Reggaetón: An Unexpected Journey that Encompasses Theatre and Urban Music

Authors

Alejandro Tomas Rodriguez, University of New Mexico

Files

Description

Over the last decade I’ve been exploring old traditional songs from different cultures of Latin America, the Caribbean and West Africa. This research has opened my eyes in a fundamental way: I realized that there has always been a need for humans to seek the expansion of one’s own limits. In the sense of enlarging the experience of what we usually perceive as “myself”. Following the impact of these old rhythms in my body, and personal needs to explore new horizons today I am involved in the creation of reggaetón music. How did I get here?

Alejandro Tomás Rodriguez is an Argentinean actor, theatre director, teacher, singer, and song writer. His field of expertise includes devised theatre; community engagement; voice; movement; diverse styles and techniques within contemporary performance practice. He is the lead vocalist and songwriter of Engine, a Latin-alternative-cumbia-rock band based in Paris. In the coming months the band will release its 3rd explosive album Fuego. Since Fall 2020 he is Assistant Professor of the Theatre and Dance Department at UNM. He was the Artistic Director of the theatre ensemble Casa Talcahuano (Buenos Aires) where he also worked as an actor (2015-17). From 2007 to 2015, he worked at the Workcenter of Jerzy Grotowski and Thomas Richards (Italy). He became a key member of the Open Program team, directed by the Workcenter’s Associate Director Mario Biagini.

Publication Date

Fall 11-18-2021

Keywords

Reggaetón, Theatre, Urban Music

Recommended Citation

Rodriguez, Alejandro Tomas. "From Sacred Songs to Reggaetón: An Unexpected Journey that Encompasses Theatre and Urban Music." (2021). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/laii_events/103