Rodrigo Alegria: Poetry in Motion with Emotion
Upon an initial meeting with Rodrigo Alegria, this poet, writer, actor, artist, builder, a torrent of initial impressions come at you in a swarm. Is he just one of those … or is he all of them? After a lengthy, compelling conversation with this savvy, creative intellect, one might easily add thinker, philosopher, entertainer and intellectual to the aforementioned list of capabilities. He would most likely deny the intellective part by saying many of us have that potential. As for being a philosopher, this easy-going individual would probably assert that the street is crowded with people who regulate their lives, actions, judgments and utterances by the light of reason. As to the other two, he might allege we all have our considerations, theories, and are performers in one facet or another, quietly for ourselves or outwardly for the amusement of others.
Meet Rodrigo Alegria of Ruidoso, formerly from Chile. It appears he lives his life, so that at any hour he could shake hands with himself and like what he saw. He’s intense … you can see it in his eyes, constantly thinking and creating. His mind is packed with knowledge. Yet he claims to be self-taught.
“Your education is what you have learned from life that helps you become a happy individual,” Alegria maintains. “A person should think outside the box. The brain makes people who they are. It doesn’t matter if I’m wrong or right. Everyone has a different perspective and you always have a choice of the information you choose. If you’re sure about your beliefs, that’s what counts. Be a good listener. One thing another human being may disclose to you could change your life. Is the human race progressing? I don’t know. Occasionally, I think it could be a fake reality. At any rate, I have little influence on it either way.”
There may be some who know this self-effacing mortal and disagree he has “little influence.”
“When I was a nine-year-old youth I wanted to be a writer and actor,” Alegria explained. “I wrote a poem when I was 13 and began to take it seriously, for real, at 16 years old. It dawned on me that ideas are going all-around us and we just catch them. I enjoy the thinking process. The prize is trying to get to the end and the journey you take. My wife is a great help to me. She’s a good listener, which allows me to employ my mind rationally and objectively in evaluating and/or dealing with a given situation.”
When he speaks, his eyes dart off to the side, deep in thought. He’s contemplating.
He recently gave one of his one-man performances – titled, Motion and Emotion in the Creation – at the Bucket in Capitan to the delight of an attentive audience. He calls these overall shows, Theatrical Dance with Poetry.
“I would like to do a show once a month in Ruidoso and Lincoln County and put people together,” Alegria said. “Something like this makes people socialize. Wherever I go I’m going to continue to do this. It’s my passion. I’m also thinking about doing workshops for the younger generation. It might help them to understand their problems. Young human beings should learn to do something for others as well as themselves.”
The Ruidoso area is blessed to have so many talented personalities – and Rodrigo Alegria, a 13-year resident of this scenic mountain village, is one of them. If you happen to hear about one of his performances you would be well advised to attend. You will not be disappointed.
—Michael Curran
