معرفی
Cara Gargano is Professor of Dance and Theatre at the Post Campus of Long Island University, affiliated with the School of Performing Arts. She holds a Ph.D. in French from the City University of New York’s Graduate Center and advanced degrees from the University of Rochester. Her interdisciplinary work bridges performance, science, and literature, with a focus on the intersection of neuroscience and the performing arts, particularly audience reception and the somatic marker hypothesis.
- B.A., University of Rochester
- M.A., University of Rochester
- Ph.D., The Graduate Center, CUNY
Her research centers on dance and neuroscience, choreography, ballet, dance history, and Québécois and French theatre. She has published extensively on Marie Laberge and Anne-Marie Alonzo, exploring themes of identity, myth, memory, and embodiment. Her scholarly work examines how scientific concepts like chaos theory, mirror neurons, and holistic systems inform theatrical and choreographic practices.
The 15 most recent publications reflect a deep engagement with interdisciplinary inquiry, combining performance studies with cognitive science, cultural theory, and literary analysis. Her articles span topics from the physics of dance to myth in contemporary theatre, and from bilingual identity in Quebec to the neuroscience of mimesis. This body of work demonstrates a consistent trajectory of merging artistic practice with academic rigor.
Her scientific and academic honors include the Dixie Durr Award for Outstanding Service to Dance Research, the David Newton Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Prix du Gouvernement du Québec, and grants from the NEA, Canadian Embassy, and Quebec Winter Seminar.
She has served as President (2002–2006) and Board Member (1999–2002) of the Congress on Research in Dance, and has advised on numerous panels and conferences. Though no formal students are listed, her leadership in pedagogy and mentorship is evident through her teaching award and sustained academic service. She has been a guest lecturer and panelist at institutions like Fordham University and associations including MLA, ATHE, and IFTR.
Cara Gargano has been affiliated with major professional organizations such as Actor’s Equity Association, Congress on Research in Dance, Modern Language Association, and the National Association of Schools of Theatre, reflecting her dual identity as a performer and scholar. Her work in choreography and performance, including with the Cara Gargano Dance Company and in international productions, underscores her commitment to practice-based research.
