Matthew Schaffer is the product of an interdisciplinary MFA program, is an advocate for higher education and the power of diversity in information. At age 19, Shaffer began an apprenticeship with Giordano Dance Chicago. He studied alongside Gus Giordano and observed the practical application of his syllabus until being promoted to principal, touring the US and Europe; reinforcing his value of experiential learning. With over 25 years, of working in front of and behind the camera on film, television, and Broadway, Matthew excels at creating innovative ways to incorporate the past with the present, exchanging a firm foundation from those artists and educators who developed the techniques, genres, and vocabularies for dance and theater. Highlighted credits include Cold Case, Jackass Number Two, The Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, Hansel & Gretel at The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Earth to America with Jason Alexander, Broadway Cares with Rosie O’Donnell, Disney XD’s Kickin’ It,Bunheads, he appears alongside Adam Levine on Broad City, a regular on Season 1 of the Netflix hit Wet Hot American Summer, and on the hit show Crazy Ex Girlfriend.

Residencies include Slippery Rock University, PACE University, Oklahoma City University, UCW (UK); workshops in England, Germany, and Italy; on faculty at Broadway Dance Center and Giordano Dance School, and Shaffer is a dance educator with Fluid Dance Convention.