Matthew Rock was born in Pinehurst, North Carolina on July 8th, 1992. Matthew first started in the arts with training in music and theatre, playing a medley of instruments and acting in an array of plays. The art of dance was soon added to the list by taking ballroom dance lessons in 2008, followed by Summer training of ballet at Taylor Dance in 2009, and transferred to Terpsichore in 2010, where he trained in ballet, contemporary, and jazz technique. In 2011, he attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, majoring in BFA dance performance and choreography. Matthew began studying a myriad of genres of dance more in depth, such as, African, ballet, ballroom, contemporary, improvisation, jazz, and choreography. After graduating in 2014, he relocated to Washington D.C. to further pursue his career in dance and the performing arts. Dancing with companies such as ArasDance, Jane Franklin Dance, and Light Switch Dance Theatre, and under the instruction of various renowned dance artists, he has performed in a myriad of venues and theatres throughout North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. He has also choreographed his own works for various festivals and events along the East coast, providing different insights and perspectives on current societal events and human experiences through athleticism and artistry. He is also artistic director of MARO Movement and had dabbled in dance journalism as an active concert reviewer in D.C. Through choreographing, performing, teaching, and writing, Matthew hopes to continue to grow and expand his knowledge as an artist, sharing his experiences and voice through a movement medium and promoting social change.