Matt Garza

MATTHEW ROLANDO GARZA (he + they) is a Queer Tejanx/Latinx performance artist, Contemporary Afro-Latin choreographer, healer & educator. Garza’s work explores the relationship between the individual human body and the collective body. Recently named the Inaugural Artist in Residence for the Providence Arts + Culture + Tourism Department and Parks Department for the Historic Esek Hopkins Homestead & Park, Garza was also awarded the 2019 RI State Council for the Arts Fellowship in Choreography for their work as Creative Director for the TAPA Dance Company & Dean of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at TAPA: Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts in downtown Providence. As a practicing artist & 10-year classroom educator, Garza aims to cultivate compassionate spaces for communities to practice strength, resilience, radical self care, & revolutionary movement together. A founding member of the Glitter Goddess Collective & Haus of Glitter Dance Company, he is also a Senior Company Member of New Works/World Traditions Dance Company; an Art21 Educator; an Instructional Coach & Curriculum Designer for Project Wayfinder; an adjunct professor in the Theatre Department for CCRI's program in the Men and Women's prisons; a Community Organizer & Resident Artist for PRONK: Providence Honk Fest; and an Anatomy & Yoga/Asana Instructor for Yoga Alliance Teacher Certification Trainings, with an emphasis on inclusivity, transformative justice, & community healing. Garza holds a B.A. in Education History from Brown University ‘11 and a dual M.A. in Educational Theatre & Social Studies Education from NYU. In their free time, Garza enjoys glitter, painting, singing, practicing/teaching yoga, dismantling institutional oppression, eating spaghetti, and making masks/costumes.