COURTESY PHOTO
Lynn English graduate Jose Ramos with Jennifer Lopez.
BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE
LYNN — Jose Ramos, also known as “Hollywood,” is an artistic director living on the west coast who has worked with Beyonce, P. Diddy and Nicki Minaj.
But it all started at Lynn English High School.
“It’s really humbling to come from a small city and make it out to actually pursue my dreams,” he said. “It’s weird for me. I came from the Lynn English cafeteria, making up dances.”
Ramos was the choreographer on Beyonce’s Formation World Tour, the Bad Boy Reunion with P. Diddy, and Nicki Minaj’s performance at the Billboard Music Awards.
“I did the American Music Awards with Jennifer Lopez,” Ramos said. “I was so grateful for that moment. I used to choreograph to Jennifer Lopez songs back in high school.”
Ramos attended English where he graduated in 2003 and helped establish a dance team. He also joined In The Making, an up-and-coming hip hop dance group.
James Runner, who formed the group with Amy Croche in 1999, said Ramos’ success does not surprise him.
“We were lucky to get him at an early age,” Runner said. “He had it when he first got to me. The only thing I provided him with was structure and opportunities at different venues.”
Ramos recently visited the team to meet the teens and teach them a few of his moves, Runner said.
“He’s now traveling world-renowned and still remembering where he came from,” Runner said. “That’s one reason I wanted my kids to see him face to face. They said ‘Runner, he’s just like us.”
Ramos said his big break came after he was dropped by his agent. Motivated by the rejection, he posted videos of his choreography on Youtube, and eventually caught the attention of P. Diddy.
“He found my video online,” Ramos said. “I just figured, let me drop a concert video the same day that he drops his new video. It was a strategy. He liked it so much he wanted to make it his original video.”
The next week, a video of his choreography to a Nicki Minaj song went viral, he said. It was followed by a successful video for Jeremih’s “Don’t Tell ‘Em.”
“I didn’t have representation,” Ramos said. “I was my own agent.”
Ramos said he wants other children who are working towards a similar dream to know that nothing comes overnight, and they must adapt to the hard times. He said the most important thing is to stay positive and support others, because people will be attracted to you for your good energy.
“My mom always used to tell me the world is yours and I believed her,” Ramos said. “That’s one of the main reasons I wake up and do what I do.”
Since losing his mother, Helen, Ramos said remembering her advice is what drives him forward.
“My mom was in the hospital as I was rehearsing, and she told me to follow my dreams and work hard and to stay humble,” Ramos said. “That’s what I’m doing.”
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte.
