Gabriel Mata is a Mexican-American dance choreographer, educator, and performer. He graduated from San José State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. The StarTribune has called him “Sly, subtle and totally virtuosic, theatrical dancer-choreographer Gabriel Mata holds the stage with expressive movement and witty words.” Gabriel Mata/Movements is his solo based performance project. His most recent 50 minute solo DREAMING was awarded the "2018 MN Fringe Festival Audience Pick". In 2017, he was awarded "The Twin Cities Arts Reader Best of Fringe Award" for his 50 minute solo Out of the Shadows. His dances have been performed in Minnesota, California, New York, North Carolina, and DC. His work has been commissioned and performed by sjDANCEco, the Festival of Latin American Contemporary Choreographers, the Luna Dance Institute, Joy of Motion, Dance Place, and the Charlotte Dance Festival. He has performed for companies such as sjDANCEco, Post:Ballet, REACH BC Dance Company, Zenon Dance Company, and Mark Foehringer Dance Projects SF. Mr. Mata has also performed for artists such as Diane Frank, Joel Smith, Keith Johnson, Wynn Fricke, and the work of José Limón. He trained in Limón technique and applies its theory in his teaching with contemporary influences. He has taught at Santa Ana High School, Zenon Dance School, Dance Institute of Washington, and Dance Exchange. He has also been awarded the Sadie Rose Artist Residency Award, the Mina Garman Award for Excellence in Choreography, the Carol Ann Haws Award for Excellence in Performance, and 2018’s “Best Arrival for DC Dance” editors pick for Washington City Paper.