Juan Carlos Claudio
Movement specialist, educator, and advocate for the integration of arts in healthcare through rhythmic movement, music, and somatic practices.
Research rooted in neuroplasticity, emotional intelligence, and embodied expression. The impact of transformational and emotionally intelligent leadership in rehabilitation settings, and how movement therapies can enhance patient care and satisfaction.
Juan Carlos Claudio is an accomplished educator, choreographer, and visionary arts-health advocate whose career bridges the worlds of dance, rehabilitation, and higher education. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Dance at Weber State University, where he teaches courses in improvisation, dance for aging populations, and dance history, integrating multicultural dialogue, somatic inquiry, and embodied learning into every aspect of his pedagogy. With over two decades of performance and teaching experience, Juan Carlos brings an expansive and inclusive lens to the classroom and community, encouraging students to engage with movement as both artistic expression and therapeutic practice.
A former company member of the renowned Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company and a collaborator with the Nikolais/Louis Dance Company, Juan Carlos has performed on national and international stages. Today, he channels that depth of experience into Grey Matters Dance, LLC, his community-based initiative serving older adults across the cognitive and physical spectrum. His evidence-informed programs harness the power of music, dance, and somatic rhythm to support neurological rehabilitation, cognitive health, and emotional well-being—particularly for individuals with Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, stroke, and brain injury.
Juan Carlos is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Leadership within Health Professions, with research focused on the impact of Emotional Intelligence (EI), Transformational Leadership, and Gentle Power Leadership in physical therapy and rehabilitation settings. His interdisciplinary dissertation integrates neuroscience, empathy research, and leadership theory to advocate for the institutional recognition of complementary movement therapies in healthcare. He is also a leader within Utah’s arts policy landscape, serving on the Utah Division of Arts and Museums and several ambassadorial committees, advancing access, equity, and visibility for the arts.
A proud first-generation academic and the founder of several cross-cultural initiatives, Juan Carlos is driven by a deep belief in human dignity, inclusive education, and the transformative role of the arts. Whether mentoring students, designing inclusive curriculum, or facilitating dance workshops in long-term care facilities, his leadership is rooted in compassion, clarity, and a vision of healing through movement.
He lives with his partner of 27 years, Kade Clark, and remains deeply committed to bridging art, science, and service—one breath, one step, and one community at a time.
Interests
I’m a movement educator, community-engaged scholar, and passionate advocate for the role of the arts in healing and healthcare. I currently serve as an Assistant Professor of Dance at Weber State University, where I teach courses in improvisation, dance for aging populations, and embodied practices that explore the intersections of dance, neuroscience, and human connection.
My work extends beyond the studio and classroom into community and healthcare settings through Grey Matters Dance, LLC, a program I founded that supports individuals with cognitive and physical impairments—especially those living with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and brain injury—through somatic, music-based movement interventions. As a Ph.D. candidate in Leadership in Health Professions, my research centers on transformational leadership, emotional intelligence, and the integration of complementary dance therapies into rehabilitation settings to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction.
I am deeply committed to civic service and arts advocacy. I currently serve as Co-Chair of the Utah Division of Arts and Museums, sit on the Ambassadorial Committee for the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, and am a proud Board Member of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS). These roles allow me to champion inclusive access to the arts and promote interdisciplinary collaboration across health, policy, and education sectors.
As a person, I find joy in traveling, meeting new people, discovering new foods, dancing, and immersing myself in diverse cultures. These experiences continually shape my teaching, scholarship, and belief in the power of human connection through movement.