La Cookout

La Cookout is a site-specific, immersive dance performance and community gathering created and directed by choreographer Amanda Ramirez. The project brings together dancers, musicians, theater artists, cultural historians, and food vendors to transform a traditional Latin-style cookout, or carne asada, into a living, participatory performance experience. Through performance and shared food, La Cookout invites audiences to engage with the cultural and social significance of these fiestas as forms of connection, survival, and celebration within Latine communities across generations.

Artist Bio

Amanda Ramirez (she/her) is a Chicago-based dancer, director, and choreographer creating genre-bending works rooted in her Chicana culture. Her practice bridges contemporary dance with Latin forms, including salsa, cumbia, and flamenco, integrating percussive movement, live music, and collaborative performance. Since 2016, she has presented original work throughout the country, including at Millennium Park, RadFest, and the Chicago Cultural Center. She is the director and producer of the dance film, Tierra. Learn more at ramirezdance.com