Mario LaMothe

Mario LaMothe is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Black Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. His work focuses on Haitian contemporary dance, Vodou practices, and diasporic identity formations. LaMothe’s research examines how Haitian bodies negotiate intersectional identities through performance, particularly in response to political crises like the 2010 earthquake and ongoing socio-economic challenges. He is currently developing a digital humanities project documenting Haitian migration narratives across the Americas, addressing refugee experiences and systemic marginalization.

Education: PhD in Performance Studies (Northwestern University, 2015); MFA in Performing Arts Management (Brooklyn College, 1999); BA in Theater Arts/French Studies (Boston College, 1992). Professional certifications include the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center (1994).

Research interests include: Haitian cultural politics, queer diaspora studies, ethnographic performance analysis, and transnational migration narratives. His work bridges anthropology, performance studies, and critical race theory to explore embodied resistance and cultural memory.

Publications span peer-reviewed journals like Women & Performance and edited volumes such as The Routledge Companion to African American Theatre and Performance. Recent projects emphasize collaborative oral history methodologies and digital archiving of marginalized voices.