director - educator - choreographer - performer
Gabriel Mata
pronounced: gah-bryehl mah-tah
Latinx Movement Festival 2025 Artists:
Armani Rey Colón & Juan Manu
Alejandro Góngora & Manuel Cuellar
Adriana Martinez & Gaby Milazzo
MaryAnn Chavez
Angel Ramirez
Corazón Folklórico DC Inc.
Armando Ibañez, and
Felipe Raul Oyarzun Moltedo
"There was a particular resonance as the artists—undocumented or first and second generation citizens—occupied the choreographic space as their own. The curation of the festival also reflected the inability of the traditional, western concert dance format—a repeatable series of steps bookended in time between curtains—to showcase some aspects of that lived experience. "
- Justin Rustle (Maryland Theater Guide) 2025
"An identity that is not defined by what others see or by how others want us to be seen, but one where being “neither from here nor there” in all of its forms – in sexuality, cultural identity, citizenship, gender expression, and beyond – is celebrated, expressed, and blended to create a tasty and seductive one-of-kind “salsa” I’m very eager to taste again."
- Mauricio Pita (GayCities) 2024
"It’s more than a little surprising that the Inaugural Latinx Movement Festival is just that—inaugural. It was well-curated by local dancer and choreographer,, Gabriel Mata, following a tried and true format featuring workshops, guest artists, panel discussions and performances. A performance which, at least on Sunday’s iteration, nearly sold out Dance Place in North East DC."
- Justin Rustle (Maryland Theater Guide) 2024
The Latinx Movement Festival in Washington, DC is a dynamic annual event that celebrates the expansive artistry of Latinx dance makers and cultural workers across the United States. Founded and directed by independent artist Gabriel Mata, the festival is rooted in the value of movement as both a physical and cultural practice. The festival highlights Latinx creators whose work engages contemporary, queer, and traditional forms of performance, movement, and storytelling. The Latinx Movement Festival DC offers a platform for voices often underrepresented in the dance and performance fields, while creating a welcoming space for cross-generational and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The festival was launched in 2024 with a successful inaugural season at Dance Place, featuring Carne Viva Dance Theater, Primera Generación Dance Collective, Xochipilli Dance Company, Salome Nieto, Gabriel Mata & Amelia Estrada and local commissioned choreographers: Angel Ramirez & Tabata Vara.
Driven by Gabriel Mata’s vision and supported by a growing network of community partners and artists, the Latinx Movement Festival is not just a celebration of dance—it is a movement for visibility, equity, and cultural celebration that continues to build momentum each year.