Ruckus works to open up performance spaces that both provoke conversation and bewilder the viewer, driving them to ask questions about the logic of what is happening before them. Through layering improvisation and choreography, performances invite audiences to analyze what is being generated live.
Ruckus prioritizes clarity, rigor, exhaustion, self-annihilation, self-love, focus, distraction, multi-tasking, and grit. The work treats attention as material: where it lands, where it slips, and what that reveals in the moment.
Improvisation is used as a practical tool—an engine for real-time composition—while choreography provides structure that can hold pressure. The result is performance that stays accountable to the room and to the bodies inside it.
Ruckus Dance is choreographed and directed by Michael Figueroa.
Michael Figueroa is a Boston-based (by way of South Florida) performance maker, teacher, dancer, and director of Ruckus Dance. His dances deal with rulebreaking, rote memory, personal anecdotes, occasional audience participation, and improvised situations.
He has presented evening-length work in New England and beyond, and his projects have been made possible through support from organizations including The Boston Foundation, Somerville Arts Council, and the New England Foundation of the Arts.
Michael attended The Boston Conservatory and graduated with a BFA in dance.
Michael has taught weekly classes as part of the Midday Movement Series, in addition to workshops at schools and programs including Boston Arts Academy and other regional institutions. His teaching practice navigates the intersections between choreography and improvisation.
As a performer, he has appeared in projects by/with artists and companies across the Greater Boston area and touring circuits, building a practice that remains deeply connected to community and collaboration.
For presenting inquiries or class/workshop requests, please use the contact page.