Teresa Marrero: Viewing all the world as a stage

"Every situation has an element of the dramatic. We also behave in somewhat socially scripted ways in certain situations," Marrero says. "For instance, when we go to church, we dress and act the part."

Marrero, an assistant professor, teaches Spanish and Latin American and Latino literature. She also has a passion for Latin American theater. She travels throughout the world studying and writing about Latin American and Latino theater at various festivals. Last summer, she traveled to New York and Miami to participate in the International Latin American Theatre Festival. This year she attended the second annual Politics and Performance Conference/Festival sponsored by New York University in Monterrey, Mexico.

"I enjoy the theater festivals because they bring exposure to Latin American and Latino theater. There is so much out there that we don't even realize exists because it isn't as widely publicized as the plays from other parts of the world," she says.

Marrero became involved in theater while working on her graduate degree at the University of California at Irvine. One of her friends, a Latino director, invited her to a dramatic workshop, and Marrero's interest grew from there.

"I learned so much about the inside workings of how a play comes together. I can write about a play now with the insight of someone who knows the backstage, not just the critical, literary aspect," Marrero says.

Marrero not only studies the Latino culture, but she is also a part of it. She was born in Cuba and immigrated to Los Angeles with her family when she was 9. She returned to Cuba in 1998 for a theater festival.

"I love the Cuban people and our culture. There's a distinction between the people and their government. Cubans have such a rich culture, and we're influenced by it here in America in all kinds of ways," she says.

In addition to her interest in the theater, Marrero is passionate about salsa dancing in her free time. Salsa comes from the blending of Spanish and African musical traditions in the Caribbean culture.

"I love to salsa dance because there are so many different people in the Metroplex area who participate in it. It's not just Hispanics. There are people from swing, rock, Tejano, country and hip hop backgrounds that all love to salsa dance, too," Marrero says.

She also finds theatrical elements in dance.

"There are scripted behaviors that people follow when they salsa dance. The women and men have certain roles to perform, as do all couples dancing," Marrero says.

BY ALLISON YEAMAN paiswri3@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue:

• UNT faculty member to write book about pioneering female food chemist
• High Voltage Power Systems president named to TAMS board
• UNT seeking nominations for annual alumni awards
• Tom Malone to perform at UNT Nov. 20
• Guest column: Suggestions to preserve security at UNT
• Mail safety tips: Ways to protect yourself
• Staff awards presented at sack lunch
• Administrators give reports to Faculty Senate

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