Performer Bio

Maura García (non-enrolled Cherokee/Mattamuskeet) is a dancer, dancemaker, entertainer, and facilitator. She inspires people to liberate themselves through vibrant performances that channel the sensual rhythms of the natural world. From theater stages, to nightclubs, to museums, to conferences, to universities, to private events, to site-specific outdoor performances, Maura’s powerful work transforms time and space. At the root of all of her endeavors is the desire to heal and create more space for joy in the world.

Her earliest dance/movement training was in Mandinka social dances, ballet, modern, tae-kwon-do, and pow-wow dance. As an adult she has studied with Dance Exchange, STREB, celebrated Maori choreographer Charles Koroneho, and the Indigenous Choreographers Creation Lab at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. As a professional performer and entertainer, she currently specializes in rhythm-based dance, martial arts fusion and sensual expression. As a community member she also participates in the traditional stomp dance ceremonies of her people and is shell shaker.

Regardless of the project she is a part of, Maura works with clients and other creatives to help bring their visions to life. She has shared her talents with numerous companies, productions, artists and venues in a variety of multi-faceted ways:

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

Carnaval Dance (various Caribbean and South American) | Contemporary Indigenous Performance | Cuban Folkloric Dance (Orisha, Palo) | Go-go Dance | Improvisation | Mandinka social dances and dances of other tribal nations in present-day Guinea and Mali | Ori Tahiti | Pow-wow Dance (women's fancy shawl) | Striptease | Taekwondo

Maura is also proficient in basic ballet and modern, and has performed modern dance choreography for multiple artists.

In addition to continuing her professional development through dance technique classes and intensives, Maura regularly trains in vinyasa yoga and animal flow movement.

THEATER EXPERIENCE

As a company dancer, Maura performed regularly with Ashe Moyubba Dance Ensemble (DC), Barbea Williams Performing Company (AZ) and Kuumba Dancers and Drummers (FL). Additionally she has performed as a guest artist with Raven Spirit Dance Company (BC, Canada), Calpulli Iskalli (MO) and for choreographer Thomas E.S. Kelly (Minjungbal-Yugambeh/Wiradjuri/Nivanuatu, QLD, Australia)

Maura has been a core member of the artistic development team and performing ensemble for several devised theater projects including: “We Are The Landscape” directed by Karen Lisondra and Amado Espinoza (KS); “Spirit Coalescent” directed by Native jazz fusion band D’DAT (NM); Indigenous Roadshow (AK) directed by Peter Rockford Espiritu. For a series of special performances at the Lawrence Arts Center (KS), she joined the cast of “RETHINK: I Am A Veteran” as a guest choreographer and dancer. She has also set her own choreography on University of Oklahoma dancers for the Oklahoma International Dance Festival and Anjali’s School of Dance (Bharatanatyam) for the Tangled Roots Exhibition (KS).

MUSIC INDUSTRY

Maura has worked as a backup dancer for multiple live music shows including performances by Muscogee/Cherokee performance art pop-star Elisa Harkins, internationally renowned Ethiopian singer Chachi Tadesse and acclaimed Bolivian musician Amado Espinoza. Maura also performed with Luis Garay Percussion World Ensemble (VA) for a special presentation at the Wolf Trap (VA) and danced with Tobey Foyeh & Orchestra Africa at Clemson University (SC). She has also accompanied the Malcolm X Drummers during performances throughout the DC metro area.

During the Covid pandemic, Maura began dancing in music videos. Her dancing has been featured in “Horizons” by Native hiphop artist James Pakootas aka Just Jamez (Colville Confederated Tribes), the music video for “Circle Song” by singer-songwriter Elexa Dawson (Citizen Band Potawatomi) and “Lorena” by BEVERLEE.

ADULT ENTERTAINMENT

In addition to working on theater stages, Maura is a stellar entertainer who enjoys tantalizing adult audiences. To date she has worked in four gentleman’s clubs in three different states, including the well-loved Knockouts Gentleman’s Club (NM). As a gogo dancer she has energized crowds in nightclubs throughout the country, namely the Gay 90’s nightclub (MN) and The Globe (WA). She has also appeared in burlesque performances, including a roving, audience-hyping interactive performance at The Copper Lounge (NM) and a classic burlesque show at the Tulsa Spotlight Theater (OK).

Virtually she has performed live for the Native-owned CYBER SINFERNO Virtual Strip Club (CA) and via private zoom sessions for individual audiences. By request, Maura creates pre-recorded performance videos. Additionally she designed the online erotic art show “DESIRE” - short films featuring her own intimate performances.

Maura currently resides on A-ma-ye-(t)li, also known as turtle island. She believes that every interaction with a living being is an opportunity to positively affect the world. As she travels the world, she continues to seek out opportunities that will allow her to dance, connect and create with others.

Maura is an international touring artist available for in-person and virtual engagements. Among the extensive list of venues she has performed at are:

 

  • Ace Arts Inc (MB, Canada)

  • Ackland Art Museum (NC, USA)

  • Atlas Performing Arts Center (DC, USA)

  • Baltimore Theatre Project (MD, USA)

  • Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity (AB, Canada)

  • Bebe Theatre (NC, USA)

  • Bunnell Street Arts (AK, USA)

  • Bonham Exchange (TX, USA)

  • Carriage House (NY, USA)

  • Connecticut College (CN, USA)

  • Conservation Lands Foundation Friends Summit (NM, USA)

  • Copper Lounge (NM, USA)

  • Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (AR, USA)

  • Dance Place (DC, USA)

  • Deja Vu Showgirls (WA, USA)

  • Denison University (OH, USA)

  • Disney World (FL, USA)

  • Embassy of Senegal (DC, USA)

  • Gay 90’s Nightclub (MN, USA)

  • Indian Cultural Pueblo Center (NM, USA)

  • Farmington Civic Center (NM, USA)

  • Haskell Indian Nations University (KS, USA)

  • Kansas City Repertory Theater (MO, USA)

  • Knockouts Gentleman's Club (NM, USA)

  • La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club (NY, USA)

  • Lawrence Arts Center (KS, USA)

  • Links Hall (IL, USA)

  • Matriarch’s Uprising Festival (BC, Canada)

  • Movement Research at the Judson Church (NY, USA)

  • Nanwalek Village (“AK, USA”)

  • New York Theater Workshop (NY, USA)

  • Onkwehón:we Original People’s Festival (ON, Canada)

  • Open Spaces Arts Biennial (MO, USA)

  • Club PuSH, Performance Works, (BC, Canada)

  • Prelude Festival NYC (NY, USA)

  • Rhythmically Speaking Festival (MN, USA)

  • SACNAS Annual Conference (FL, USA)

  • Spotlight Theater (OK, USA)

  • Stateline Showgirls (ID, USA)

  • Talking Stick Festival (BC, Canada)

  • TD’s North Showclub (NM, USA)

  • The Dance Centre (BC, Canada)

  • The Globe Nightclub (WA, USA)

  • Unedited Series at the Charleston Library Society (SC, USA)

  • University of Arizona (AZ, USA)

  • University of Oklahoma (OK, USA)

  • University of South Carolina (SC, USA)

  • Vines Arts Festival (BC, Canada)

  • West Village Theater (AB, Canada)

  • Walker Arts Center (MN, USA)

  • Warm Springs Reservation (“OR, USA”)

  • Weesageechak Begins to Dance Festival (ON, Canada)

  • West Village Theatre (AB, Canada)

  • Western Arts Alliance annual conferences (CA, USA; AB, Canada)

  • Woodland Cultural Centre (BC, Canada)

 
 
 

(Photo by James Pakootas)