Gay Nardone teaches jazz and tap dance and instituted the aerial arts program at UNH for the Department of Theatre and Dance. She received her M.F.A. and B.F.A. from the Boston Conservatory. Nardone began her career with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall and danced with the June Taylor Dancers of the Jackie Gleason television show. She has choreographed operas and musicals for the University including Seussical and Vignettes: Ellis Island with David Ripley in the Music Department. Nardone's choreography may be seen in Clara's Dream, the Jazz Nutcracker, where she has performed since 2003 at the Music Hall in Portsmouth and on tours. Nardone performs with Dean Diggins and Drika Overton as the "Classical Tap Trio." Nardone's career and her aerial dance program at UNH have been featured on the WMUR television program "Chronicle".
Courses Taught
- THDA 444B: Hon/Famous Dancers -20th Cent
- THDA 565: Beginning Aerial Dance
- THDA 589: Practicum/Performance
- THDA 633: Dance Composition
- THDA 665: Aerial Dance
- THDA 795W: Independent Study
- THDA 799H: Honors/Capstone Project
Research Interests
- Aerial dance
- Choreography
- Dance pedagogy
- Jazz dance
- Theatre dance
Artistic Activities
Momotaro Peach Boy Hero./Monkey Puppet Choreographer (2019).
FAIRIES/Director/Co-Choreographer (2019).
Clara's Dream/ Shown Rosendale Theatre NY & The Loft Portsmouth (2018).
Celebration an evening of Jazz Tap and film documentaries (2018).
The Tall Tribe (2018).
Celebration -Producer/Director / Performer (2018).
Wizard of OZ (2018).
Pericles (2018).
UNH 150 Year Celebration Performance at The Music Hall in Portsmouth (2017).
Panda Project: UNH Dance and Music Troupe (2017).
