Federico Restrepo
Federico Restrepo was born in Bogotá, Colombia. He began his training of mime and ballet as a young boy with Priscila Welton and Miroslav Kura. His first professional theatre work was dancing with the Ballet National de Colombia in 1983. He came to New York in 1985 and studied at the Merce Cunningham School. Since 1985 he has developed a puppetry style which incorporates design and dance. He is the founder and artistic director of Dance/Puppet Theatre Company, Loco7, formerly known
as Puppets and Drummers. His goal as a director has been to design the set and puppets as an extension of the dancer’s body. The spectacle is an ever changing environment, transforming and moving through out the space. His subject matter is very much, the soul of Colombia mixed with his experiences of living in New York City. His intense love and passion for the history of the Americas and his journeys in New York are a constant source for all his work. Loco7 troupe represented Colombia in the third Iberia-American
Theater Festival with his La MaMa born piece of the same name.
He has premiered, designed, performed and directed eight original
pieces at La MaMa ETC in New York City, with subsequent tours
through out the world. Loco7 troupe represented Colombia in the third Iberia-American Theater Festival with his La MaMa born piece of the same name. He has premiered, designed, performed and directed ten original pieces at La MaMa ETC in New York City, with subsequent tours through out the world.
Room To Panic (2008) presented at The Annex Theatre, wass the final episode in the triptych theatrical work titled Urban Trilogy, which depicted, in movement and visual theater, the experience of immigration to America. Open Door (2006) presented at The Annex Theatre, takes the audience 2000 years back to the mythological world of the Amazon Jungle. Mythology of the Yurupari poems inspired the tale of the change of power from matriarchy to patriarchy.
Bokan,the Bad Hearted (2004) presented at The Annex Theatre,
takes the audience 2000 years back to the mythological world
of the Amazon Jungle. Mythology of the Yurupari poems inspired
the tale of the change of power from matriarchy to patriarchy.
9 Windows (2002) (2002) presented at the Spolotina Festival, Italy, La MaMa ETC, Teatro Leonardus in which nine episodic vignettes reveal a series of multi-media, live art paintings that depict the experience of being a displaced immigrant. It deals with a Colombian immigrant in New York who has strange dreams, which affect his view of the world. Colores (1998) which reflects upon the history of Colombia between 1492 to 1833 in particular, dealing with the evolution of the Mestizo people of Colombia, digging up their history and the many different colors of their skins, which was performed in the International Festival of Puppet Theatre presented by the Jim Henson Foundation. Aguirre,
the Spiral of the Warrior (1996), which performed in Teatro dell’ Angelo, in Rome, based on the legend of the Spanish conquistador who, in 1562, rebelled against Spain to create his own empire. Thematically, it set out to explore one of the most intriguing and least-explored New World phenomena: The “Americanization” of the European man and his ways of thinking. Cosecha (1990), dealing with the lives of Colombian refugee farmers and their involvement with the Colombian civil war of 1947, a war which subsequently lead to “guerilla warfare” and drug harvests, Loco7 (1989), a multi-media odyssey through the subways of NY with giant puppet subways, and two other Gotham fantasies: Locombia (1986), Carrera (1988).
In addition he premiered in Bogotá, Colombia, Piratas
de papel (1994) and Mobil
urbano (1986).
He has appeared at La MaMa ETC as a member of the Great Jones
Repertory Company in Ellen Stewart’s Asclepius, The Raven, Perseus, Antigone, Mythos
Oedipus, Dionysus Fillus Dei, Monk and The
Hangman's Daughter, Seven Against Thebes and Draupadi.
He is a resident puppet designer, choreographer, performer
and director of La MaMa ETC.
In addition he has designed lights for professional productions in New York as well as abroad. Recent work includes: Twelfth Night, La MaMa Moves Festival, Asclepius, The Sad Story of Ethal and Julius, Weiner Girls, Trojan Women, Driving on the Left Side, Place Poems, Cucaracha.
Since 2003 Mr. Restrepo has been a teaching artist for New York City Public Schools. He is involved with an outreach program City Lore. He teaches dance, puppet and mask design and construction.
