Meet Marcos Duran, Performance Artist and Dancer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcos Duran.

Marcos, before we jump into specific questions about your work, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.

My work has been largely shaped by my time in New York, where I directed and performed in Marcos Duran Performance Group while an artist-in-residence at Center for Performance Research. Focusing on individuality within collectives, I honed my abilities as a transdisciplinary collaborator at the La Jolla Playhouse theater district for my MFA thesis at the University of California San Diego. In 2021 my passion for filmmaking was lauded with the Best Performances award for “Minced” at the Los Angeles Experimental Film Festival. Also, my writing about art was published in HereIn Journal. I currently work with San Diego Dance Theater and have been commissioned by Malashock Dance to create a new live dance work for a production at the Mingei International Museum. In January 2022 I will continue appointments as a Lecturer in Studies in Performance and Dance Repertory at UC San Diego and Dance Improvisation at San Diego City College.

Has it been a smooth road?

I would not be where I am today without the perseverance to reflect and learn from my mistakes, rejections, heartbreaks, and regrets.

We’d love to hear more about your work.

My work as a director-performer takes a transdisciplinary approach in guiding diverse personalities, bodies, and abilities.  I encourage individuals to develop their uniqueness within the collective by integrating voice work, writing, sketching, storytelling, body conditioning, craniosacral and somato-emotional training in the rehearsal process. I invite the viewer’s anatomy and imagination to respond to guided somatic integration, as well as geometric, literary, socio-political and cinematic references in the performance. The work emerges as a contemporary take on folk dance, staging metaphorical and poetic adventures for physical performers and their audience. Together, they enter worlds of shifting spatial dimensions, psychological reckonings, and theatrical scenes that explore states of being ranging from eerily dark to exuberantly comedic.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?

San Diego artists of all disciplines really impress me, but especially dancers and dance educators. I also love the diverse terrain– the canyons really speak to my imagination, and the beach refreshes my presence in the world. Jogging through eucalyptus groves sustains my pursuit of health. The hot sun reminds me of my vulnerability, and keeps me humble.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/movingduran/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarcosDuranPerformanceArtist

Image Credit:
Sam Khan, Manuel Rotenberg, Derek Weiler, Valarie Duran

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