A Los Angeles born native, Estela Garcia is a performer, movement coach, deviser, community engagement specialist, mask maker, teacher and tinkerer of materials. In addition to being Movement faculty at CalArts, Garcia is a resident teaching artist for Center Theatre Group. She received her MFA from Dell'Arte in ensemble-based physical theatre.

As a teacher, Estela strives to create a brave space where students can nurture vulnerability, risk and confidence as storytellers. Estela believes all students come with an innate capacity to tell stories through movement. Through her approach to the work she helps them identify habits, develop new skills and articulate their body’s voice. She is committed to anti-racism and a non-hierarchical teaching style where diverse bodies are met with dignity and belonging. Estela has been a guest artist at Cal State LA, The University of Irvine, Cal State Northridge,  ELACC and East LA Magnet, where she helped lead the creation of Ensemble Created Devised Work. 

As an actress, Garcia is best known for her portrayal of surrealist painter Remedios Varo in a play by the same name that she created, last presented at 2018's [LAX] Performance Festival. She played Josefina in Mojada by Luis Alfaro for Center Theatre Group’s partnership for the Digital Stage. Her experimental short film TRYING can be found on The Music Center's website as part of the For the Love of L.A. series. Other notable acting credits include Esperanza in The House on Mango Street at Greenway Court Theatre, Mother in Mourning of All Our Sons at Theatre At the Museum by Moving Arts at LACMA, and 14 at Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre at University of Michigan.

As a director/movement coach, Estela worked with Kinan Valdez on Popol Vuh: Heart of Heaven, co-produced by Center Theatre Group and El Teatro Campesino, was Puppetry Director for South Coast Rep’s The Long Road Today,  and numerous award winning productions with Rogue Artists Ensemble. This Fall, Garcia is working as Movement Director for a play in development for TheatreWorkers Project with formerly incarcerated individuals who are now earning degrees at CSULA.  Additionally, she is directing Hija de mi Madre, a devised mask play for the Short+Sweet Hollywood Latinx festival.