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Faculty

Cara Gargano

Cara Gargano

Professor of Theatre and Dance

B.A., M.A., University of RochesterPh.D., The Graduate Center, CUNY

Description

Cara Gargano is Professor of Dance and Theatre at the Post Campus of Long Island University. She studied at the New York School of Ballet under Richard Thomas and Barbara Fallis, and later taught at the school. She has performed both as a dancer and as an actress and her concert choreography has been presented in Europe as well as in the United States. A stage director and choreographer, she has worked in theatre, opera and musical comedy. She holds a Ph.D. in French from the City University of New York’s Graduate Center. Her recent research focuses on the intersection of science and the performing arts, with specific application to audience reception and the somatic marker hypothesis. She has written extensively on Québécois theatre and served a translator for both plays and novels. She is twice Past President of the Congress on Research in Dance and Recipient of the Dixie Durr Award for Outstanding Service to Dance Research.


Specialties

Ballet, Dance History, Classical Theatre History, Québécois and French Theatre, Dance and Neuroscience, Choreography, Pedagogy

Publications

  • Author, “Dancing with Maya Plisetskaya” published in Ventures in Research (1990)
  • Author, “Silent Rage in Marie Laberge’s ‘L’Homme gris’: the Mutism of Cri-Cri,” published in Modern Drama (1993)
  • Author, “Un mythe à plusieurs voix dans le theater québécois: les mythes transformés et transformateurs de Marie Laberge” published in “Mythes dans la literature contemporaine d’expression française” (1994)
  • Author, “Le regard auto-reflexif du comedien: le doublement et le dédoublement au one-man show,” published in L’Annuaire Théâtral (1996)
  • Author, “Dance, Physics and Holistic Fusion,” published in “Dance and Research: an Interdisciplinary Approach II” (1996)
  • Author, “L’Endroit qui parle: l’utopie du topos théâtral et la scène mythique chez Marie Laberge” published in “Réécriture des mythes: utopie au feminine” (1997)
  • Author, “Le Mythe d’Orphée et la ‘nouvelle alliance’ scientifique,” published in “Reliologiques: Orphée et Eurydice: mythes en mutation” (1997)
  • Author, “The Starfish and the Strange Attractor,” published in New Theatre Quarterly (1997)
  • Author, “(Out) of Body Experiences: Journeys, Gestures and Joy,” review published in the Congress on Dance Research Newsletter (1996, 1997)
  • Author, “Complex Theatre: Science and Myth in Three Contemporary Performances,” published in New Theatre Quarterly (1998)
  • Author, “D.C. Dances on the Millennium Stage” published in Dance Research Journal (2000/2001)
  • Author, “Défier la réalité: l’esthéthique de la mémoire chez Madeleine Monette” published in “Réécriture de Madeleine Monette”(1999)
  • Author, “Bodies, Rest, and Motion,” published in New Theatre Quarterly (2002)
  • Author, “Put Yourself in Motion: Twyla Tharp,” published in CenterStage Magazine (2003)
  • Author, “Masks of Language, Culture, and Community: Sweet Revenge in Marie Laberge’s ‘Le Night Cap Bar,’” Modern Drama (2004)
  • Author, “‘Figée dans le moment absolu’ ou comment parler de la danse,” published in “Anne-Marie Alonzo et ‘La Danse des marches’” (2004)
  • Co-author, “‘The Hermes-Aphrodite Correspondence’: Creative Collaboration in Archetypal Theater,” published in “Hermes and Aphrodite Encounters”(2004)
  • Author, “Aesthetic Collisions: Dialogues in Dance and Poetry” published in “Collide: Styles, Structures and Ideas in Disciplinary Writing” (2005)

Performances

  • Performer and Translator, “The No/On Project,” Paris, France (2006)
  • Actor and Co-author, The Hermes-Aphrodite Correspondence (2002)
  • Dancer and Choreographer, Cara Gargano Dance Company (1983-1993)
  • Ballet Mistress, Garden State Ballet (1981-1982)
  • Dancer and Performer, U.S. Terpsichore Dance Co. (1978-1983)
  • Actor and Dancer, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre (1978)
  • Dancer and Assistant Director, Saint Mark’s Dance Company, Washington, D.C. (1976-1978)
  • Dancer, Choreographer and Assistant Director, Arlington Dance Theatre (1975-1976)
  • Choreographer and Actor, Upstate Repertory Theatre (1972-1974)

Lectures and Presentations

  • Author, “Dancing Brains and Rewired Minds: Choreographing Dance Pedagogy in the 21st Century,” presented at the Congress on Research in Dance (2009)
  • Author, “Mirror Neurons, Mimesis, and Memes: New Questions for an Old Theatre,” presented at the International Federation for Theatre Research Conference (2009)
  • Author, “Alternative Theatre Practices and the Future of Pedagogy in the Context of Globalization,” presented at the International Association of University Theatre Conference (2008)
  • Author, “Rewriting the Sisterhood: life and Art in Marie Laberge’s ‘Charlotte, ma soeur,’” presented at the Northeastern Modern Language Association Conference (2008)
  • Author, “Claude Izner et les Mystères de Paris,” presented at the Modern Language Association Conference (2006)
  • Author, “Dancing Dialogues: Dance and…,” presented at the Congress on Research in Dance (2006)
  • Author, “Theatre and the ‘New Brain’: Re-mapping the Re-wired Mind,” presented at the Association Internationale de Théâtre Universitaire Conference (2006)
  • Chair, “Re(text)ing Context: Remodeling Social Templates in the Training of Young Actors,” panel discussion presented at the Association Internationale de Théâtre Universitaire Conference (2006)
  • Chair, “Phantom Processions and Runaway Trains: How Narrative Structures are Linked to Models of the Psyche,” panel discussion presented at the Northeastern Modern Language Association (2006)
  • Author, “Love and Madness: The Bedroom as Contested Site in Marie Laberge’s ‘Deux Tangos pour toute une vie,’” presented at the Northeastern Modern Language Association Conference (2005)
  • Author, “Anne-Marie Alonzo et la dansécriture,” presented at the American Council on Quebec Studies Conference (2004)
  • Author, “Anne-Marie Alonzo: Body as Text / Text as Body,” presented at the Congress on Research in Dance Special Colloquium on “Text, Performance and the Body” (2004)
  • Author, “Le Goût du bonheur de Marie Laberge : Miroir magique d’une société en transition,” presented at Society of French and French-speaking Professors of America Conference (2004)
  • Author, “Anne-Marie Alonzo’s Healing Textual Dance,” presented at the Congress on Research in Dance (2004)
  • Author, “Mapping a Cultural Crossroads: 100 Years of Dance at the Third Street Music School Settlement,” presented at the Pulses and Impulses for Dance in the Community conference (2003)
  • Author, “Les transports du deuil: silence et parole dans ‘Pierre, ou la consolation’ de Marie Laberge,” presented at Fordham University (2002)
  • Author, “All About Eve: Images of the Garden in Two of Marie Laberge’s Plays,” presented at the Northeastern Modern Language Association Conference (2002)
  • Author, “A Tiny hand invites you to dance! Beware Close your eyes!: Divine madness in ‘Giselle’ and at ‘La Salpêtrière,’” presented at the Society of Dance History Scholars Conference (2002)
  • Author, “Sylphs and Sirens: Landscapes of Love in Nineteenth-Century Ballet,” presented at the Group for Early Modern Studies Conference (2002)
  • Author, “Migrating and Migratory Prisons: Crossing Frontiers in Pierre-Paul Savoie’s ‘Bagne,’” presented at the Congress on Research in Dance (2001)
  • “Choreographing the Self: Archetypes and Split Personalities in Mark Dendy’s ‘Dream Analysis’” presented at the Congress on Research in Dance (1998)
  • Guest Lecturer, “La Littérature néo-québécoise: les contributions des écrivain(e)s immigrant(e)s au Québec,” presented at the meeting of the American Association of Teachers of French, New York Chapter (1998)
  • Author, “One Man Hamlets and Multiple Macbeths,” presented at the International Federation for Theatre Research Conference (1998)
  • Author, “Madeleine Monette: L’art violent et la violence de l’art,” at the International Council on Francophone Studies Conference (1998)
  • Author, “Reading the ‘ballet de cour’: Bodily Literature as Performance of Power in 17th Century Court Entertainment,” presented at the Northeast Modern Language Association Conference (1998)
  • Author, “Dance and Science: From the Seventeenth Century Celestial Body to the Twentieth Century Particle Dance,” presented at the Congress on Research in Dance (1997)
  • Author, “Theatres in Complicity: Audience and Actor as Accomplices in Meaning,” presented at the International Federation for Theatre Research Conference (1997)
  • Author, “‘Joie’ and the Construction of Feminine Identity in Quebecois Theatre: Pol Pelletier on Stage, 1975-1995,” presented at the Northeast Modern Language Association Conference (1997)
  • Author, “Bodies, Rest and Motion: From the Dance of Shiva to Chaos Theory’s Biodance,” presented at the Congress on Research in Dance (1996)
  • Author, “Marie Laberge: femme mythographe,” presented at the International Council on Francophone Studies Conference (1996)
  • Author, “Les Voix, les visions et les femmes de Marie Laberge,” presented at the Colloque Création et Réalité d’Expresion Française (M1996)
  • Panelist, “What Colleges Want,” seminar presented at the Southeastern Theatre Conference (1995)
  • Author, “Staging the Murder Scene: The Thriller as the Site of Revenge in Marie Laberge’s Plays,” presented at the Northeastern Modern Language Association Conference (1995)
  • Author, “Le mot provocant: Subversion of Linguistic Hierarchies in Marie Laberge’s Plays,” presented at the Northeast Modern Language Association Conference (1994)
  • Author, “Articulating the Feminine and Restoring corps-présence: Dramatic representations of Women in Marie Laberge’s Plays” presented at the Northeast Modern Language Association Confernce (1993)

Honors/Awards

  • Recipient, Research Grant, Quebec Winter Seminar (1999)
  • David Newton Award for Excellence in Teaching, Long Island University (1995)
  • Recipient, Prix du Gouvernement du Québec (1995)
  • Recipient, Honorable Mention, Women’s Caucus award for best feminist paper (1994)
  • Recipient, Canadian Embassy Grant (1992-1993) Recipient, NEA Grant (1975, 1976)

Affiliation

  • Member, Actor’s Equity Association (1978-present)
  • Member, American Association of Physical Education Recreation & Dance (1987-2002)
  • Member, Association for Theatre in Higher Education (1986-present)
  • Member, National Dance Association (1986-present)
  • Member, National Association of Schools of Dance (1987-present)
  • Member, National Association of Schools of Theatre (1989-present)
  • President, Congress on Research in Dance (2002-2006)
  • Board Member, Congress on Research in Dance (1999-2002)
  • Member, Congress on Research in Dance (1987-present)
  • Member, Women’s Caucus of the MLA (1992-present)
  • Board Member, Women’s Caucus of the MLA (1994-1998)
  • Member, National Association of Schools of Theatre (1992-present)
  • Member, Modern Language Association (1992-present)
  • Member, Northeastern Modern Language Association (1992-present)
  • Member, International Council for Francophone Studies (1994-2002)
  • Member, International Federation for Theatre Research (1994-present)
  • Member, Association for Canadian Theatre Research (1994-present)
  • Member, American Council for Quebec Studies (1996-present)
  • Member, International Association for University Theatre (1997-present)