Dr. Carla Melo

Assistant Professor

Biography

Carla Melo is an Assistant Professor in the Teaching Stream at the University of Toronto Scarborough, specializing in Theatre Performance Studies. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles, where her dissertation focused on contemporary Brazilian performance. An accomplished researcher and director, Carla's work critically engages with the intersections of performance, social engagement, and activism. Her artistic research emphasizes the corporeal aspects of performance and their relations to public space, memory, and history. She adopts a decolonial perspective, particularly focusing on artistic practices of Latin American, Afro-diasporic, and indigenous populations. Her publications span several esteemed journals, and she has contributed to edited volumes on performance studies. Prior to joining UTSC, she taught at Arizona State University and other Canadian institutions, where she also became active in the independent theatre scene by founding CorpOLuz Theatre. Carla's teaching interests include Theatre and Performance Activism, Devising, Acting, and Collective Memory in Theatre.

Research Interests

Experience

Assistant Professor
2014-01-01 — Present

University of Toronto Scarborough • Toronto, ON

Teaching and researching Theatre Performance Studies with a focus on social engagement and activism.

Assistant Professor
2007-01-01 — 2013-01-01

Arizona State University • Tempe, AZ

Contributed to the Theatre Performance Americas program, focusing on performance practices.

Awards

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Toronto Arts Council Grant
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Experiential Education Fund
2020-11-01
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Teaching Equipment Grant
2020-11-01
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Canadian Council for the Arts: Concept Realization
2020-09-01
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Ontario Arts Council Grant