In Our Gallery
Nora Gardner
Nora Garda is a dancer, instructor, performer, and community organizer dedicated to advancing the arts in schools and the broader community. She holds an M.S. in Analytical Chemistry from Lehigh University and worked for over 28 years as a Senior Chemist at the University of Iowa Pharmaceuticals.
Active in Iowa since 1998, she is the founder and director of the Iowa Dance Festival (2007–present), bringing artists from across the U.S. and beyond to Eastern Iowa. She has founded Arts a la Carte, Habeas Corpus, and InterDance, organizations focused on participatory, community-based arts.
Her work includes video/performance installations such as Tango Variations and the Iowa Waltz and Tango Triptychs, presented in Iowa and Spain, and the TV program Nora’s House of Dance (2017–2019). She founded the Argentine Folkloric Dance Group in Iowa and has organized public performances for events like National Dance Day.
She taught dance in schools for over a decade and led community projects supported by the Iowa City Public Art Program. Since 2021, she has worked with Infinity Dance, promoting inclusive dance. She currently serves as a Mentoring Specialist with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County.
Artist Statement
Nora Garda, believes that documentation and dissemination of cultural aspects beyond the typical perception of a country is an enriching experience to share. She aims to provide access to and facilitate exchange of different cultures and art forms in Iowa. She has invested nearly 3 decades sharing the not-so-well known culture of Argentina with Iowans, through dance, music, video, installations and folk celebrations.
