Creative People Joined Together

Marden Ramos was born in Santiago de Cuba and studied ballet at the Escuela Profesional de Ballet under the direction of Fernando Alonzo. Upon graduation in 1985 he joined the company, Ballet de Camaguey, performing the principal roles of all the classical ballets. In his early 20’s he moved to Havana where he danced with the National Ballet of Television. He was invited to Mexico to dance with the National Ballet de Mexico City for 2 years. In 1992, Marden made his way to New York City and starred in the Off Broadway show Nostalgia Tropical. While in NYC, he was a guest artist with many different companies including Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson's company Complexions. Marden also had the opportunity to work with many other talented dancers and choreographers including Donald Byrd, John Passafiume, Paul Sanasardo and Brett Raphael. He is most recognized for his time spent as the principal dancer of The Elisa Monte Dance Company. During his 10 years with EMDC, Marden expanded his ballet and contemporary training, taught master classes in various techniques, studied Pilates under David Brown, and performed in hundreds of theatres and venues around the world. He was invited to dance in Barcelona, Spain and spent 2 years performing and teaching with various companies and schools. In 2008 Marden and his wife joined the Richland Academy team! Over the past 14 years he has enjoyed teaching and pushing the Richland Academy dancers to reach their highest potential in class and on the stage. In 2012, with the support of the Richland Academy and the Mansfield community, he created the ‘Danza Libre project’; he brought professional dancers to Mansfield and created new pieces for an incredible evening of dance. He has been an adjunct dance instructor teaching ballet at The Ohio State University in Columbus, modern dance technique at OSU Mansfield, and ballet classes at Wright State University. Marden has taught master classes at various studios in Ohio- ArtEmotion Summer Cleveland Intensives, Ballet in the City’s “Guys Dance Too” program, Central Ohio Youth Ballet in Newark, Ohio Conservatory of Ballet. Nationally in Virginia at George Mason University, Connecticut- commissioned to choreograph two new works on the Connecticut Ballet Company; 2019 “In the Shadow of Women” and 2021 “LeVantate” and has taught for many years at the All-Ohio Dance Festival. He has set his original choreography on NEOS dance theatre, Danzante and dancers attending the YAGP. Marden jointly taught in several community programs: classes at Foundation Academy, classes at Richland School of Academic Arts, Friendly House After School Programs, and United Way Summer in the Park Program. At the high school level, he taught at Career Tech Programs in Performing Arts at Pioneer Joint Vocational High School and Mansfield City High School. Marden co-choreographed Spring Awakening at the Renaissance Theatre. Marden often says, “Dance can be painful… but not impossible.”