Joel Melendez

Joel Melendez, Co-founder of the touring duo Matica Arts, has traveled the Americas performing and learning. He is a gifted performer known for his unicycling, clowning, juggling, improvisational and acrobatic skills. Joel is a "physical artist" who loves exploring the vast capabilities of the human body. He is co-founder of Matica Arts and Thrive Movement studio. He is on the Hartford Performs artist roster with his innovative Capoeira program. He also is the Capoeira director at Plus 1 Defense in West Hartford and a teaching artist for Oddfellow's Playhouse in Middletown
Joel is also a musician, Capoerista. Joel sees the arts as a vehicle to inspire, connect and transport the audience to a mystical world free of inhibitions where all is possible.

Matica arts presented an entertaining/instructional program, at the Hartford Public Library this fall. We look forward to a total of four interactive, muti-media presentations of Matica's Instruments of the World at at least two library sites this coming July. They will take audiences on a musical journey around the globe and through time, using instruments and visual arts from Tibet, China, Brazil, Europe, Mexico, Australia and Africa.
We are very pleased with the quality and thoughtfulness of their work.

Debra Perry, Hartford Public Library in support of Instruments of the World