The Latino/a Focus Group (LFG) of the Association of Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) invites complete panel proposals and individual paper proposals for ATHE’s 2010 conference. The theme this year is “Theatre Alive: Theatre, Media, and Survival.” The LFG is particularly interested in panels that consider new artistic, teaching, and research methodologies. We encourage panels and papers that bring together scholars and artists in dialogue, and alternative and innovative formats. While we welcome all panels and papers that address the conference theme broadly, we also encourage submissions that address (but are not limited to) the following subjects:

• Intersections and Interactions: Latina/o and Latin American Theatre and performance across disciplines, such as media and communication studies, affect studies, trauma studies, peace and conflict studies, human rights studies, to name a few.

• Issues concerning linguistic and cultural translation and interpretation, the praxis of translation, the challenges in writing translation for performance and performing plays in translation.

• Latina/o dance, choreography and choreographers

• Theorizing Latina/o and Latin American theatre and performance within and across various ethnic, racial, cultural, and geographic divides.

• Latinas/os on Hollywood and Broadway

• Historicizing theater companies in California, especially Los Angeles

• Transnationalism and globalization and diaspora

• The Fringe as the Center: Latina/o Plays and Playwrights in the 21st Century

• Reflections, interventions, and re-imaginings regarding the field of theatre and performance studies in relation to Latina/o and Latin American Theatre and Performance.

• Practical concerns with the pedagogy of Latina/o and Latin American Theatre: Producing, Directing, and Teaching Plays in educational settings.

Complete panel proposals should be submitted on-line using the ATHE website (http://www.athe.org) by Nov. 1, 2009, but we encourage all individuals who are considering submitting a panel to contact the Latina/o Focus Group Conference Planner, Patricia Herrera (pherrera@richmond.edu) well before the deadline so that the efforts of the focus group can be coordinated. Only complete panel proposals will be considered.

Individual paper proposals for consideration for placement on a panel sponsored by the Latina/o Focus Group require a 250-word abstract (along with contact information and AV needs) e-mailed to the Latino Focus Group Conference Planner, Patricia Herrera (pherrera@richmond.edu) by October 15, 2008. Placement on a panel sponsored by the focus group does not guarantee acceptance by the conference.

Please read the instructions below so as to best prepare your paper or panel proposal.

1. You are encouraged to use the ATHE-LFG listserve (athe-lfg@ucdavis.edu ) in order to circulate panel proposals, paper ideas, to ask questions and to brainstorm ideas. If you are not on the list and wish to be added, please contact the Secretary, Gregory Ramos (gramos@uvm.edu) or send a message to listproc@ucdavis.edu. The message should read: sub athe-lfg (last name) (first name) For example, sub athe-lfg Ramos Greg

2. Individual paper abstracts submitted to the conference planner must include paper title and contact information, and must specify any AV needs. ATHE does not accept individual paper submissions -- DO NOT submit your individual proposal on the ATHE website.

3. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL GRANT REQUESTS MUST ALSO BE SUBMITTED BY NOVEMBER 1. Grants may be requested for day passes for local artists who participate in a panel or to help defray the costs of visitors who might not otherwise be able to afford the conference.

4. Presenters wishing to create multidisciplinary panels must contact the Focus Group Conference Planners for each of the THREE groups they propose as sponsors. Multidisciplinary panel must consist of a total of 3 groups, at least one of which should come from each organization (i.e. 1 Focus Group and 2 Networks, or 2 Focus Groups and 1 Network).

5. Presenters are limited to 2 appearances on the conference program. Exceptions are only made at the discretion of the Conference Committee.

6. Presenters proposing programs outside of the traditional panel format are asked to be specific in their proposals concerning the structure and number of participants so that ATHE can be notified about space/time needs.

7. Presenters who wish to submit grant requests are encouraged to contact the Focus Group Conference Planner well in advance of the November 1 deadline.

8. ATHE will notify the LFG concerning accepted or rejected panels by mid-February. Panelists should expect to hear from the Conference Planner or their Panel Chair by early March.