Mary Fitzgerald

Program Dir (ACD) & Professor, School of Music, Dance and Theatre

PEBE 111 TEMPE, AZ 85287-0304
Mail code: 2002

Campus: Tempe
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Long Bio

Professor Mary Fitzgerald is a dance artist and educator whose creative work includes choreography, performance, and more recently, dance filmmaking. She was a member of Kei Takei’s Moving Earth for nearly ten years, performing and teaching internationally. She also has danced with A Ludwig Dance Theatre, Fred Darsow Dance, and several independent choreographers throughout the United States. Her creative work has been presented locally and internationally in theatres, museums, new media festivals, and outdoor spaces. She has received support from such organizations as the Ministry of Culture in Mexico, Japan Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Arizona Commission on the Arts, ASU’s Institute of Humanities Research, and Herberger Institute of Design and the Arts. Ms. Fitzgerald’s teaching and creative research centers on interdisciplinary art-making, contemporary movement practices, and socially engaged arts. She has received two Distinguished Teaching Awards from HIDA and nominations for ASU Professor of the Year in 2010 and 2013. From 1998-2007, she co-directed Dance Arizona Repertory Theatre (DART), the student community dance company. DART’s program excellence was recognized with the President’s Award for Social Embeddedness in 2004, and for a second time in 2007 as a partner to the ASU Art Museum.

Education

M.F.A. Performance/Choreography, Arizona State University 1998
B.A. Interdisciplinary major: Dance, Zoology and Nutrition (Summa cum Laude), University of Maine 1984

Curriculum Vitae (0 bytes)

Images

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Research Interests

Contemporary modern dance choreography and new media
Socially Engaged Arts
Somatic Practices

As a choreographer and somatics practitioner, Professor Fitzgerald has a keen interest in dance and new media and science/art collaborations. In addition to creating intimate human portraits using the mediums of film and live choreography, she has collaborated with other artists and scientists on performance projects related to sensory experiences, neuroscience, and sustainability. These have been presented in a range of venues, from conventional theatres to outdoor spaces. Professor Fitzgerald also frequently joins forces with faculty from the School of Music on large ensemble dance and music events that have featured the works of new music composers Glenn Hackbarth, Wendy Mae Chambers, Iannis Xenakis and John Cage.

In addition to choreography, Professor Fitzgerald's research agenda centers on socially engaged arts. Since 1998 she has collaborated with local artists, youth groups, and older adults on a range of creative projects about placemaking, health and wellness, and sustainability. Past partners include the Silvestre Herrera School, Boys and Girls Club of the East Valley, Thomas J. Pappas School, Youth Development Institute, South Mountain High School, Friendship Village, and Westward Ho. She has published several articles and a book chapter about dance and social justice and about the history of community dance in the United States.

Publications

Fitzgerald, M. Community to Classroom: Reflections on Community-Centered Pedagogy in

Contemporary Modern Dance Technique, Journal of Dance Education, 17: 1-7, 2017.

Susan Bendix, Mary Fitzgerald and Harper Piver. Phoenix In Motion: A Dance for the Camera Project for Urban Youth. Journal of Dance Education (2011).

Mary Fitzgerald. Tracing Roots: Some Historical Highlights of Community Dance History in the United States (1960s-present). Animated (2010).

Mary Fitzgerald. Aesthetic Considerations in Community Dance: A Practitioner’s Perspective. The International Journal for the Arts in Society (2009).

Mary Fitzgerald. Community Dance – Dance Arizona Repertory Theatre as a Vehicle for Cultural Emancipation. Dance, Human Rights and Social Justice: Dignity in Motion (2008).

Research Activity

SELECTED INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL GRANTS (Please see CV for details)

HIDA Interdisciplinary Project Collaboration Grant, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, 2017-18 ($4500). Supported the development of Vestiges, a new work created in collaboration with Eileen Standley (dancer/choreographer), Case Farina (media artist), and Dmitri von Klein (filmmaker).

Performing Arts Japan Collaborative Grant, Japan Foundation, 2016-17 ($10,000), Co-PI. Grant for the development of a collaborative performance project, En with Professor Eileen Standley (Dance) and two Japanese artists.

Institute for Humanities Seed Grant, Arizona State University, 2016-17 ($8,843), PI. Received in collaboration with Clinical Professor Eileen Standley (Dance) and Professor Rose Weitz (Women and Gender Studies) for Enmei (Long Life): A Dance and Aging Project.

HIDA Seed Grant, Herberger Institute for the Arts, 2016-17($7, 127.21), PI. Collaboration with Clinical Professor Eileen Standley (Dance) and Professor Rose Weitz (Women and Gender Studies) for Enmei (Long Life): A Dance and Aging Project.

HIDA Project Grant, Herberger Institute for the Arts, 2016-17 ($2000), PI. Supported Enmei project.

HIDA Project Grant, 2016-17 ($3255), PI. Supported creation of Floating Chronologies, a new dance film.

City of Tempe/ASU Partnership Grant, 2016-17 ($5000), PI. Served as a collaborator/mentor to graduate students Jamey Garner and Felix Cruz on the intergenerational dance project, Bridging the Divide: A Youth and Elders Creative Collaboration.

HIDA Project Grant from the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, 2010 ($3276), PI. Supported creation of Flow States with dancer Jessica Mumford and video artist/composer Casey Farina.

Faculty Enrichment Grantf from the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, 2010 ($4998), PI. Supported creation of a dance for camera piece, Hidden Spaces, with video artist Jessica Mumford and composer Julian Peterson.

Collaborative Research and Creative Activity Grant from the Herberger College of the Arts, 2007-08 ($4050), PI. Supported creation of a collaborative project, Habitats, with video artist, Arina Melkorvenova, and four dancers.

Artist Projects Grant, Arizona Commission on the Arts, 2006 ($5,000).

Collaborative Research and Creative Activity Grantfrom the Herberger College of Fine Arts, 2005-06 ($10,970), PI. Supported collaboration with Todd Ingalls, and Christian Ziegler on an interdisciplinary performance event entitled, Bodysense II.

Collaborative Research and Creative Activity Grantfrom the Herberger College of Fine Arts, 2003-04 ($12,000), PI. Supported collaboration with Todd Ingalls and Christian Ziegler on interdisciplinary performance piece entitled, Bodysense.

Etheridge Woodson,Stephani*, Fitzgerald,Mary M. Our Town - City of Phoenix. CITY OF PHOENIX(2/13/2015 - 9/1/2016).

Johnson,Elizabeth*, Essig,Linda, Etheridge Woodson,Stephani, Fitzgerald,Mary M, Mook,Richard W. At Home in the Desert: Youth Engagement and Place. NEA(1/1/2012 - 3/31/2013).

Johnson,Elizabeth*, Dove,Simon, Etheridge Woodson,Stephani, Fitzgerald,Mary M. Light It Up: Optimizing Public Practice. (9/28/2011 - 10/28/2011).

Fitzgerald,Mary M*, Tsukayama,Jennifer L. Integrating Communities - A Mixed Ability Dance Project. Phx Office of Arts and Culture(12/1/2006 - 5/8/2007).

Fitzgerald,Mary M*, Tsukayama,Jennifer L. Crossing Borders. Phx Office of Arts and Culture(8/15/2005 - 4/30/2006).

Tsukayama,Jennifer L*, Fitzgerald,Mary M. Expanding Boundaries. Phx Office of Arts and Culture(9/1/2004 - 4/30/2005).

Courses

2023 Spring

Course Number	Course Title
DCE 593	Applied Project
DCE 484	Internship
DCE 680	Practicum
DCE 161	Creative Practices II
DCE 590	Reading and Conference
DCE 536	Somatic Practices
DCE 336	Somatic Mvt Dev & Facilitation
DCE 499	Individualized Instruction
DCE 580	Practicum
DCE 683	Fieldwork
DCE 583	Fieldwork
DCE 693	Applied Project

2022 Fall

Course Number	Course Title
DCE 590	Reading and Conference
DCE 693	Applied Project
DCE 360	Creative Practices V
DCE 580	Practicum
DCE 136	Intro to Somatic Movement
DCE 593	Applied Project
DCE 680	Practicum
DCE 584	Internship
DCE 499	Individualized Instruction
DCE 683	Fieldwork
DCE 484	Internship
DCE 598	Special Topics

2022 Summer

Course Number	Course Title
DCE 695	Continuing Registration

2022 Spring

Course Number	Course Title
DCE 499	Individualized Instruction
DCE 680	Practicum
DCE 161	Creative Practice II
DCE 561	Grad Creative Practices II
DCE 590	Reading and Conference
DCE 231	2nd-Yr Movement Practices II
DCE 484	Internship
DCE 580	Practicum
DCE 683	Fieldwork
DCE 583	Fieldwork
DCE 693	Applied Project
DCE 593	Applied Project
THF 397	Prof Development Seminar
DCE 593	Applied Project

2021 Fall

Course Number	Course Title
DCE 683	Fieldwork
DCE 693	Applied Project
DCE 580	Practicum
DCE 136	Somatic Practices I
DCE 593	Applied Project
DCE 584	Internship
DCE 499	Individualized Instruction
DCE 680	Practicum
SST 494	Special Topics
HUL 494	Special Topics
HUL 494	Special Topics
SST 598	Special Topics
SST 494	Special Topics
SST 598	Special Topics
HCR 494	Special Topics
HCR 494	Special Topics
DCE 484	Internship

2021 Spring

Course Number	Course Title
DCE 683	Fieldwork
DCE 499	Individualized Instruction
DCE 580	Practicum
DCE 536	Somatic Practices
DCE 583	Fieldwork
DCE 693	Applied Project
DCE 494	Special Topics
THF 397	Prof Development Seminar
DCE 484	Internship
DCE 336	Somatic Practices III
DCE 590	Reading and Conference
DCE 161	First-Yr Creative Practices II
DCE 680	Practicum
DCE 231	2nd-Yr Movement Practices II

2020 Fall

Course Number	Course Title
DCE 130	First-Year Movement Pract I
DCE 360	Third-Yr Creative Practices I
DCE 660	Grad Creative Practices III
DCE 560	Grad Creative Practices I

2020 Spring

Course Number	Course Title
DCE 336	Somatic Practices III
DCE 236	Somatic Practices II
DCE 680	Practicum
DCE 161	First-Yr Creative Practices II
DCE 590	Reading and Conference
DCE 231	2nd-Yr Movement Practices II
DCE 536	Somatic Practices
DCE 580	Practicum
DCE 580	Practicum
DCE 484	Internship
DCE 499	Individualized Instruction
DCE 683	Fieldwork
DCE 583	Fieldwork
DCE 693	Applied Project
DCE 494	Special Topics

2019 Fall

Course Number	Course Title
DCE 560	Grad Creative Practices I
DCE 493	Honors Thesis
DCE 130	First-Year Movement Pract I
DCE 693	Applied Project
DCE 660	Grad Creative Practices III
DCE 360	Third-Yr Creative Practices I
DCE 593	Applied Project
DCE 680	Practicum

2019 Spring

Course Number	Course Title
DCE 680	Practicum
DCE 236	Somatic Practices II
DCE 161	First-Yr Creative Practices II
DCE 590	Reading and Conference
DCE 231	2nd-Yr Movement Practices II
DCE 336	Somatic Practices III
DCE 536	Somatic Practices
DCE 680	Practicum
DCE 580	Practicum
DCE 499	Individualized Instruction
DCE 580	Practicum
DCE 683	Fieldwork
DCE 583	Fieldwork
DCE 693	Applied Project
DCE 484	Internship

2018 Fall

Course Number	Course Title
DCE 660	Grad Creative Practices III
DCE 493	Honors Thesis
DCE 693	Applied Project
DCE 130	First-Year Movement Pract I
DCE 560	Grad Creative Practices I
DCE 499	Individualized Instruction
DCE 360	Third-Yr Creative Practices I
DCE 593	Applied Project
DCE 484	Internship
DCE 680	Practicum
DCE 499	Individualized Instruction

2018 Spring

Course Number	Course Title
DCE 499	Individualized Instruction
DCE 580	Practicum
DCE 484	Internship
DCE 590	Reading and Conference
DCE 683	Fieldwork
DCE 583	Fieldwork
DCE 693	Applied Project
DCE 680	Practicum

Presentations

Mary Fitzgerald. Community to Classroom: Community-based Dance Pedagogy and Postmodern Contemporary Dance Technique. National Dance Education Conference (Oct 2013).
Mary Fitzgerald. Creative Practices in Dance Curriculums in Higher Education. World Dance Alliance Global Summit (Jul 2010).
Susan Bendix, Mary Fitzgerald and Harper Piver. Moving Shorts. World Dance Alliance Global Summit (Jul 2010).
Mary Fitzgerald. Aesthetic Considerations in Community Dance. World Dance Alliance Global Summit (Jul 2008).
Mary Fitzgerald. Community Dance - A Vehicle for Cultural Emancipation. Congress on Research and Dance: Dance and Human Rights (Nov 2005).
Mary Fitzgerald. Expanding the Boundaries of Art and Life: The Impact of a Community Dance Program on College Students. National Dance Education Organization (Mar 2005).
Mary Fitzgerald. Body Sense. International Symposium on Arts and Technology (Oct 2004).
Mary Fitzgerald. Expanding Boundaries. National Dance Education Organization (Mar 2001).
Mary Fitzgerald. Dance and Technology in the United States. Legends of China Dance Tour (Jun 2000).
Mary Fitzgerald. Modern Dance Technique and the Construction of Positive Female Body Image. Congress on Research in Dance (Oct 1997).

Expertise Areas

Dance