Antonio Rocha | Gray, ME 

Artist Statement: 

Antonio Rocha's work as a performer/storyteller is a unique solo fusion of physical eloquence and verbal narrative. The narrative flows eloquently in between the physical and verbal worlds of the story being told. The transitions are well crafted, sometimes with realistic sound effects, a glance of the eyes, or full movement, so that there are no hard edges, but instead an experience that moves the story forward both on stage and in the observer's imagination. The idea is to leave the audience unaware of which part of the story was told verbally, in movement or with well crafted sound effects. Although the majority of his performances are in schools for younger audiences, Rocha also performs a lot for adults in Storytelling Festivals, museums and special events. The subjects cover a vast range, from folktales and mythology to personal and historical pieces. No matter the age group, the stories are designed not only to entertain, but to also bring forth some type of truth, an understanding of sorts, a bridge between worlds. Rocha's repertoire has over 100 of such original works or adaptations of stories of a time far removed, but that carry weight in today's world. The most recent piece, A Ship Called Malaga: A story of Maine and of the Middle Passage is the work he was born to tell. A historical piece of a ship built in Maine that was eventually used, illegally, to traffic captives from Africa to my home country of Brazil. More specifically to Rio, a city where Rocha grew up. This story is not only historical, but also resonates explicitly in his personal history. Rocha has been in Maine for 35 years. He came sponsored by an organization called Partners of the Americas, which he now serves as President of the Maine Chapter. When he first arrived, Maine opened a world of possibilities through Tony Montanaro at the The Celebration Barn of the late 80s and early 90s, and the Univ. of Southern Maine thereafter .The doors kept opening, opportunities he had never entertained before appeared out of thin air. Since the early 1990s Rocha not only continued to perform in Maine, but also abroad, all the while growing roots here in Maine.Then The Malaga Ship sailed into my life and brought an amazing connection from my home country of Brazil and to Maine that he never knew existed. This story is the reason Rocha came here. It is the reason he became a storyteller.

Bio:

Antonio Rocha (pronounced Haw-sha), originally from Brazil, came to Maine in 1988 to study mime under Tony Montanaro at the Celebration Barn Theater. He also earned a Summa Cum Laude Theater BA from the University of Southern Maine which assured more time with Montanaro. Then, in 1995 Antonio Rocha took a two week intensive invitational workshop with Marcel Marceau in Ohio. It was in the early 90s that Antonio Rocha started to experiment with his fusion of movement and spoken narrative. As he meticulously portrays his characters with well crafted physical characteristics (animals and people depending on the story) the audiences become mesmerized as he seamlessly transitions between the characters, the story's natural environment and himself as the narrator. This attention to detail caught the interest of national and international events. He has performed his unique fusion of mime and storytelling in 20 countries on 6 continents and 44 US states. Some of the venues include The Kennedy Center, The Mesa Performing Arts Center, Edo Museum in Tokyo, The National Storytelling Festival, Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, The Cave Run Storytelling Festival, The Graz Festival in Austria and The Singapore Festival of the Arts. Some of the events with multiple returns. A critically acclaimed performer, Antonio Rocha can entertain from elementary school age kids to teens and adults with physical comedy, poetic mime pieces, folklore and historical material such as his latest work, The Malaga Ship: a story of Maine and of the Middle Passage, which has been presented in various states, and throughout Maine through Portland Ovations in the Spring of 2023. This performance is his best work to date blending not only Maine History, but also that of Brazil, Africa, the Middle Passage and his own personal and family origins. This work also landed him an article in Maine’s prestigious DownEast Magazine. This performance was developed with financial support from Indigo Arts Alliance, The Maine Arts Commission and the New England Foundation for the Arts. Antonio is also a two time TEDx presenter, a solo theater coach , and a recipient of the coveted Circle of Excellence Award by the National Storytelling Network for his "exceptional commitment and exemplary contributions to the art of storytelling. 

On winning a Maine Artist Fellowship

I am very thankful to have received this Fellowship. It is a celebration not only of my career, but to the importance of surfacing past truths so that we can heal ourselves and move forward with a better understanding of who we are. This understanding is key for the betterment of our species, an endowment for the generations that will replace us. This award also has the power to take my career to places that it has never been before. A world of new possibilities. It is thrilling, and I am so grateful. 

Visit Antonio Rocha's Website