Matthew Rose began his dance training in Midland, Michigan, with Linda Z. Smith at the age of 17. After receiving his B.F.A. in dance from the University of Michigan in 1992, he moved to New York City. He was a soloist with the Martha Graham Dance Company from 1993-1996, and in 1997 began working with Mark Morris Dance Group. After several years of performing full-time with the group, he began assisting Mr. Morris with the creation of new works. Rose was the company's rehearsal director from 2006 to 2016.

At Loyola Rose engaged with students in and out of the classroom. He taught Advanced Ballet (DANC 343), Modern III (DANC 341,) and Rehearsal and Performance (DANC 323) in which he composed a new choreographic work with twelve dance majors for the Voces Gratia, the 2017 Dance Concert presented in the Newhart Family Theatre. Rose was a guest lecturer for Schola Cantorum (MUSC 108), where he coached the choral ensemble alongside Steven Betancourt, M.M. in a collaborative performance during the dance concert. In addition, Rose presented a public lecture titled “The Synesthesia Between Music and Dance”, referencing Dr. Oliver Sachs’s book “Musicophilia,” and the music criticism of Alex Ross from The New Yorker.