TheGrit

The space where narrative & visceral movement unite to trigger human emotion. A collective of artistry and entertainment seen on screens & stages across the world.

what TheGrit Offers…

Sophisticated and visceral, raw and picturesque, Jon Rua's creative vision and choreography puts the story in the forefront. His work, emboldened with behavior and intent, captures the moment and creates the necessary experience for the story and viewer.

Inspired by a multitude of movements and experiences, Jon's movement quality ranges through street styles, musical theater jazz, latin, contemporary, social dancing, partnering, placing the focus on the 'physical script' for the actor/dancer

FEATURED WORK

"8 COUNTS" | an Oscar vision

Macbeth "War Chorus" | Jon Rua

From Now On - Jon Rua

'First Gen' 1st workshop preview | written & choreographed by Jon Rua

New York Lottery | Triple Red 777 Scratch-Off Game

Lawrence @ Terminal 5 NYC | Choreographer Jon Rua | capture: Guy Ettlin

Phish Sizzle | Jon Rua | TheGrit

Phish 2019 New Year's Eve | Gag: Send in the Clones!

Director/Choreographer: Jon Rua

Dance Collective: TheGrit

A Chat with Jon Rua, Choreographer of THE UNTITLED UNUAUTHORIZED HUNTER S. THOMPSON MUSICAL

Will I : OSF | Choreographer Jon Rua

ISN'T IT ROMANTIC - "Don't You Want To Dance?"

"Cool" | TheGrit | #RuaWestSide

Choreographer/Director: Jon Rua

TheGrit: Dance Collective | Production House

SSNeverender Cruise Video | Movement Director: Jon Rua

Lawrence 'MORE' | Dance Narrative

'Dance at the Gym' #RuaWestSide | TheGrit

My creative offering to the classic 'West Side Story'

Milwaukee Rep sold out, record breaking, 2019 production.

-Choreographer/Director: Jon Rua

*featuring TheGrit dance collective.

Jackson Harris - Dance With The Devil (Official Video)

Zach Golden - Siren (feat. Josiah Bassey) [Official Music Video]

TheGrit leaves their mark on ’SIREN’ the Music Video

Phish - 10/31/13 "Wombat"

LoveFound

'a Mind's journey through Love'

Director | Felix Penzarella & Jon Rua

Choreographer | Jon RuaExecutive

Producer | Jon Rua, Jon Gaynes, & Felix Penzarella

TheGrit

in association with

The Focal Range

John Mayer | Dance Narrative | Choreographer Jon Rua

Lin & Rua Dance For You-a. (EXPLICIT LANGUAGE)

Choreography by Jon Rua.

Starring Dame Susan Blackwell as herself
Special thanks to Alex Horwitz, Zila Acosta, Charles Horwitz, The Dyckman Street Station in Inwood NY, The Hearth Room, Atlanta, GA.

Jesus Christ Superstar Teaser | Choreographer Jon Rua

Theater: The Muny 2017
Director: Gordon Greenberg
Choreographer: Jon Rua

Teenage Soul | Jon Rua

A segment of the dance narrative 'Teenage Soul' created by Jon Rua

Music: Owel 'Steal the Moon'

Who would I be? | Teenage Soul

Sunday in the Park in 2020 | Jon Rua

'undefeat' | Jon Rua

'One For You' Open World Version

Artist: Broken Luxury
Director|Choreographer: Jon Rua
Ft. Brianna Mercado

The Afterman | Sirius & Meri Amory

Music & Inspiration... Coheed & Cambria | The Afterman
Characters & Concept | The Amory Wars | The Afterman written by Claudio Sanchez & Chondra Echert

Director | Choreographer | Producer: Jon Rua
Starring: Brianna Mercado & Jon Rua
Director of Photography: Shar Adrias

'First Gen' 1st workshop preview | written & choreographed by Jon Rua

New York Lottery | Triple Red 777 Scratch-Off Game

Lawrence @ Terminal 5 NYC | Choreographer Jon Rua | capture: Guy Ettlin

A Chat with Jon Rua, Choreographer of THE UNTITLED UNUAUTHORIZED HUNTER S. THOMPSON MUSICAL

ISN'T IT ROMANTIC - "Don't You Want To Dance?"

SSNeverender Cruise Video | Movement Director: Jon Rua

'Dance at the Gym' #RuaWestSide | TheGrit

Jackson Harris - Dance With The Devil (Official Video)

Zach Golden - Siren (feat. Josiah Bassey) [Official Music Video]

John Mayer | Dance Narrative | Choreographer Jon Rua

Lin & Rua Dance For You-a. (EXPLICIT LANGUAGE)

Jesus Christ Superstar Teaser | Choreographer Jon Rua

#RuaWestSide Preproduction | West Side Story

SCENE AT TWO RIVER - Jon Rua

One day I’ll have my own Tony and/or Academy

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Visit my IGTV @jonrua1 to see the final cut & more of #BroadwaysSecretWeapon

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Many choreographers/directors focus on production quality, I’ve always focused on the QUALITY of the work the camera captures, the story, the choreography, the unique authenticity. •

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This steady cam choreographed 1 take piece, LOVEFOUND, evolved into an edited piece due to production & lighting constraints. BUT this is how I truly envisioned it. This rough rehearsal holds so much inside of it, such as...

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In New York getting to work is work!

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In New York, this particular Ripley Grier Studios room is tight!

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In New York, time is like sand in your hand. But we persevere: we TRAIN, we ENVISION, we STAY TRUE, we create ART, even if it compromises our social media visibility!

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In New York, there are barely any crews or tribes, there are hungry dancers that must evolve to their full artistry to survive. •

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In New York, name on your hand the amount of social media influencers that are choreographers!?

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In New York, theater choreographer’s work aesthetic are rich with culture, but are they the one making the step? Perhaps, there is more to the story... I assume the budget for Broadway is small then?

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One day, I’ll tell these statements when someone asks me, when did you start creating your vision. And I’ll know just how much I committed to truly having my own voice. (With honor to the Black & Latino culture, that invited me to be a torchbearer) and that I committed to protecting dancers, artists, actors, directors, choreographers, humans...from being emotionally tainted in a field that disposes of you. A field I love, but must see evolve.

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@thegrit_channel est. 2012

Sunday in the Park | Dance Production

Director/Choreographer: Jon Rua

#RuaWestSide Preproduction | West Side Story

One day I’ll have my own Tony and/or Academy

MERCH