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Running Deer aka. Kiyomi Ortega began her storytelling career in the classroom, occasionally entertaining the children in her Son's and Daughter's classroom. Seeing the need for sparking the imagination in children, she honed her craft. Kiyomi first began by reading stories from books and acting them out. This worked well for a time, but she found herself wanting to share more with her student audiences. It was then that Kiyomi began writing her own material and founded "Running Deer Enterprises." She gathered a force of talented Native American Dancers and performers and produced "Walks in Silence" a story of quiet strength and courage. The talent that she brought together was impressive. Champion Native American Traditional Dancers, Singers, Actors and Musicians including her though she didn't know it at the time, future Husband, Rey Ortega aka. Windspirit. The production was a great success. Unfortunately, trying to keep a cast and crew of such great size together proved to be very difficult. The company disbanded after three performances, but Kiyomi would not give up.
She joined forces with Rey Ortega, who played the Native American Flute in "Walks in Silence". She found that not only was he a well known flautist (Rey stepped into the production at the last minute when the original flautist became ill) but was also a multitalented performer. They put their minds and creativity together and "The Wisdom Tree" became a reality. "Show Business is two words." Kiyomi says, "Rey handles the Show and I handle the Business." The truth is that Rey and Kiyomi Make The Wisdom Tree a team effort. Kiyomi is in charge of the business aspects of the Wisdom Tree while Rey concentrates on the creative side. Together, they continuously strive to improve " The Wisdom Tree Program" Co-writing stories, costuming and finding new and interesting ways to communicate to audiences both young and old with masterful storytelling bringing the past to life to help people learn, grow and give.
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Rey Ortega is a multifaceted Performer, Artist and teacher. After seeing Rey onstage, many people have asked him "What don't you do?" Rey answers with a smile, "Everything, but I'm working on it." Rey began his performing career as a child putting on puppet shows, magic shows and carnivals in his backyard. Rey began learning ventriloquism at age five, inspired by ventriloquist, Paul Winchell and his wooden pals, Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff. At age 11, Rey performed at his school talent show where he caught the attention of a teacher who was in charge of a new reading and tutoring program. She asked Rey if he could develop a skit with his ventriloquist dummy to help older students learn how to tutor second and third graders in reading? Rey accepted the challenge and was soon performing at schools throughout the district.
Rey learned more than tutoring skills, he also learned that entertainment and education went hand in hand. For the most part, teachers could not be found in the various arts that Rey was interested in, so he spent all of his spare time riding his bike to the Public Library to learn from books as much as he could about Show Business, Puppetry, Maskmaking, Magic, Karate ect. ect. Through these "Silent Teachers", He pursued his dreams that ultimately led him to the beginning of his processional career at the age of 12, performing at The Disneyland Hotel, Knotts Berry Farm, Busch Gardens and The Bob Hope Uso Tours. Other performing skills that Rey has mastered include Samoan Fire Knife Dancing, Stage Acrobatics, Stuntwork, Martial Arts Weaponry and Stage Makeup. Rey Has been a professional dancer and teacher and has performed and choreographed revue shows for resort hotels and night clubs throughout the United States and Japan. Rey has also been an Artist in Residence for the Los Angeles Unified School District and consultant for San Fransisco City Schools developing creative ways to teach academics through the arts.
Rey became interested or better said, fascinated with the bamboo flute as a teenager watching a particular episode of the Kung Fu television series starring David Carradine. In the story Carradine becomes involved in a fight and breaks his flute over an opponent's head. He later makes himself a new flute. Rey watched the process closely. “A piece of bamboo with six holes in it. I can do that.” Rey found himself thinking. Shortly after he and a friend climbed the fence at a nearby nature center and harvested several pieces of bamboo. The result was his first flute. The story goes on with further twists and turns including several years where his interest lied fallow.
Here is a case of a man who has chosen to “follow his bliss” as the late mythologist Joseph Campbell, would suggest. This choice makes us all richer. “Sometimes I feel as if I become the sound of my own music.” says Rey whose life centers around this magical instrument.
All of Rey's music first begins as an improvisation. Since it is recorded live on location (not in a studio) he is inspired to interpret thru his bamboo flute the sound of a desert sunset or the dance of an oak leaf floating through the rocks in a forest stream on a misty morning. Don't be surprised if these melodies strike a familiar chord. For many, these haunting reveries hint of some profound existence aware only to the essence of one's sbeing. Beyond beauty, beyond joy, beyond love, as if exuded by some cosmic flower and vaporizing into the athmosphere for lack of comprehension. One is left with a feeling of wholeness, oneness and awe of the unknown.
Rey has performed throughout the United States. Some of Rey's performances have been for:
- Los Angeles Museum of Natural History
- Soundtrack for the film “Dreamer” at the Sundance Film Festival
- Soundtrack for the film “Color, Space, Movement” at the Sundance Film Festival
- Mallory Square Sunset Celebration, Key West, Florida
- The Westin, Rancho Mirage, California
- Native American Pow Wows throughout California
For information and to order Rey's CD's go to The Wisdom Tree Trading Post
Rey is available for concerts, festivals, meditation goups, soundtrack work and other events for audiences of any size.
For information on how you can obtain one of Rey's handcrafted Bamboo flutes, contact Rey at reyortega@wisdomtreestudios.com or call (760) 366-8929.
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