Luna Negra Dance Theater Continues Luna Niños Series, 11/30-12/2

Luna Negra Dance Theater continues its family-oriented winter series, Luna Niños, this season with the second dance "episode" of the adventures of Moniquilla and friends, this year titled "Moniquilla and the Moon Monster," presented in three performances only at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street, Friday, November 30 at 7 pm and Saturday-Sunday, December 1-2 at 3 pm.

This new hour-long, narrated dance performance, this year written, directed and choreographed by Luna Negra company member Eduardo Zuñiga, finds Moniquilla and friend Veronica at school one day when they realize that pal Matias is missing. After a little exploration, they realize that Matias has been abducted by the Moon Monster, who's in search of the mysterious Book of Magic, and Moniquilla must enlist the help of former nemesis Nico (from the previous installment, Moniquilla and the Thief of Laughter) to help save him. With illustrations by Patricia Marín Escutia, lighting by Jared B. Moore, and a giant moving set designed by Zuñiga, this immersive and interactive multi-media adventure delights children (and adults) of all ages while serving as an introduction to the dramatic power of contemporary dance.

The on-going adventures of Moniquilla, presented in annual installments as part of Luna Negra's Luna Niños artistic initiative, was conceived by Luna Negra Artistic Director Gustavo Ramírez Sansano specifically to reach young audiences through a unique dance experience tailored to their needs.

Tickets for "Moniquilla and the Moon Monster" are $15 and are available online at www.lunanegra.org. For questions or more information, call 312-337-6882.

Eduardo Zuñiga (Santiago, Chile) began his training at age 15 with The Teatro Municipal School before attending the Houston Ballet Academy, where he performed with both Houston Ballet and Houston Ballet II. In 2005, Zuniga joined State Street Ballet and in 2006 he joined Texas Ballet Theater under the direction of Ben Stevenson. He was also invited by Marcia Haydee to guest with Ballet de Santiago. He spent two seasons dancing with Hubbard Street II under the direction of Glenn Edgerton and Taryn Kaschock-Russell and has worked with classical and contemporary choreographers such as Marcia Haydee, Stanton Welch, Ben Stevenson, John Cranko, Christian Spuck, Alejandro Cerrudo, Andrea Miller, Toru Shimazaki and Edwaard Liang. Zuñiga joined Luna Negra Dance Theater in 2010.