Lindsay Guarino

Areas of Expertise

• The intersection of American history, Africanist aesthetics and jazz through a culturally conscious lens; jazz dance pedagogy; jazz dance history and theory

Education

• BFA in dance, State University of New York at Buffalo (2003)
• MFA in dance, University of Arizona (2006)

What's My Why?

I believe that dance, and specifically dance in a liberal arts environment, is a lens for seeing and understanding oneself and the world. Dance does not exist in a vacuum, so I teach my students to view dance in historical and cultural contexts and through an interdisciplinary lens. My primary goal as a dance educator is to create inroads for students to access their most authentic selves so they can contribute their unique artistry to the betterment of society. I believe in intentional community, where each individual is supported and celebrated for their unique strengths. As a jazz artist, I liken my practice to the way jazz musicians create sound. Each dancer has the potential to shine when they connect to their self and community authentically with a democratic spirit where the whole is greater than the individual.

Professional Experience

I am a jazz dance artist, educator and scholar. In my role as professor and chair of the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance at Salve, I have grown the dance program from a small minor to a vibrant B.A. that provides students with a transformative education in dance studies. I direct Salve's dance company and seek to honor jazz and its creative spirit by presenting works that are rooted while also stretching students in a range of contemporary dance forms. Outside Salve, I see myself as a connector in the field. By editing the leading publications on jazz dance and facilitating related dialogue for jazz dance students and educators, hosting multiple National Dance Education Special Topics Conferences on Jazz Dance, and launching a festival in the summer of 2024 called Bridging the Gap, I bring people and communities together to preserve, honor and participate in the rich legacy of American Jazz Dance.

Media Coverage

Joe & Michelle Dance Podcast, Uprooted: The Journey of Jazz Dance (documentary), Tea for Teaching podcast

Selected Publications

Guarino, Lindsay, Carlos R.A. Jones and Wendy Oliver, eds. Rooted Jazz Dance: Africanist Aesthetics and Equity in the Twenty-First Century. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2022. Print.8562

Guarino, Lindsay and Wendy Oliver, eds. Jazz Dance: A History of the Roots and Branches. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2014. Print.