SAMANTHA MATSUMOTO
MOVEMENT ARTIST
ARTIST STATEMENT
As a choreographer for screendance and stage, I share stories of human relationships and my own lived experiences through movement. My objective as a choreographer is to take these narratives and explore various perspectives to create a vulnerable atmosphere that could blur the lines of perception and reality. To support these narratives, I explore how dynamic movements and subtle gestures express tenderness and strength while blending with music that offers a nostalgic quality to transport the viewer into a specific moment in time. Audiences are invited to remain curious, question, and create their own interpretation of what they experienced.
ARTIST BIO
Samantha Matsumoto (she/her) is a movement artist from Sacramento, CA. She received a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from University of California Irvine. There she worked with the legendary Donald McKayle with his Etude Ensemble and Sheron Wray’s Insight Jazz Ensemble. She also worked with choreographers such as Pavel Zustiak, Chad Michael Hall, Patrick Corbin, and Israeli choreographer, Idan Cohen with Noa Shilo.
Upon returning to Sacramento, Samantha joined CORE Contemporary Dance under the direction of Kelli Leighton. During her time with CORE, she also had the opportunity to work with Jared Baker, Mia Michaels, Teddy Forance, Amy Berokoff, and Will Johnston. Samantha has taught in studios throughout Sacramento including guest teaching at local high schools. Along with teaching dance, she is also certified in STOTT Pilates and Body Harmonics Pilates. Her teachings focus on stability and mobility of the body to find flow in movement patterns and/or rehabilitation.
Her work has been presented at the ACDA 2022 Screendance Gala, Portland Dance Film Festival, San Francisco Dance Film Festival, and The Outlet Dance Project. She is currently attending Saint Mary’s College of California to earn her MFA in Creative Practice with a. Somatic emphasis. She has had the opportunity to further study Somatics with Elizebeth Randall Reins, Rosana Bargain, Jill Randall, and Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen.
Samantha's current research is about her own Japanese American experience and how she carries the memories of her ancestors within the cells of her body. She hopes to continue this research and create work inspired by the lived experiences of her family and community.