Joel Melendez

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.



This is the third year that Matica Arts performs in our school. Parents and children from PK to 8th grade enjoyed their amazing musical and artistic presentations. Their repertoire is full of positive energy and enlight our knowledge of World Music.

Juan Brito School Social Woker Mary Hooker Magnet School