Mat Elder is originally from Sparta, Tennessee. He received his undergraduate degree in Theatre/Dance from Middle Tennessee State University and his MFA in Choreography from Smith College. Mat’s training includes intensives with Doug Varone, Dance Theatre of Tennessee, David Dorfman, and the American Dance Festival. Mat has worked with choreographers including Sidra Bell, Alberto Del Saz (Ririe-Woodbury), Travis Gatling, Cynthia Guttierez-Gardner, Maurice Fraga, and Bill T. Jones dancers Paul Matteson and Leah Cox. He performed in the Alwin Nikolais: Leaving a Legacy national tour, Core Project Chicago’s, The Dust Fringe Tour, MTSU’s Exodus Project national tour, and Bill T. Jones’ reconstruction of Love Redefined at the American Dance Festival. Residencies/teaching positions include CORE Project Chicago Summer Intensive, Heritage Dance Project, Smith College, American College Dance Festival Northeast Region, the Williston Northampton School, Joy of Motion (DC), Washington Ballet, and Georgetown University. Mat’s choreography has been presented in Nashville, Massachusetts, St. Louis, Chicago, Boulder, DC, and NYC. Currently, he dances and collaborates with Christopher K Morgan & Artists and Ekilibre Dance Company. He teaches at Howard Community College.