Art, Science and Outreach
Science Outreach through Dance
Waves, tides, turbulent eddies, meandering ocean currents and other ocean motions reminds me of movement and dynamics of dance. I see this overlap as a great opportunity for communication with audiences outside of science and also motivation for the creation of new art. I have enjoyed many projects with choreographers interested in the ocean environment, including “Hoverdive” with Courtney Peix and her company Contrapose Dance, NYC Choreographer Jody Sperling’s creations for her company Time Lapse Dance, “La Mer” with Boston Ballet, and “SURGE” with Jessie Jean Stinnett and her company Boston Dance Theater.
Snergy
This project paired WHOI graduate students and staff scientists with outside artists. The artistic creations were displayed at the Boston of Museum of Science during Spring 2013, and at the New Bedford Art Museum during summer, 2014. I was privileged to be able to work with dynamic weaver Anastasia Azure. Her woven sculptures and our photos attempted to capture some of the complex elements of chaotic mixing in ocean eddies.
HoverDive
Enabled by outreach funding from the National Science Foundation, I was able to work with choreographer Courtney Peix, director of Contrapose Dance of Boston, to create an evening-length performance of modern dance motivated by the mysteries of the ocean. This final piece was performed at the Boston University Dance Theather in November, 2014 to a full audiences.
During the making of HoverDive, Courtney and I ran several outreach programs, including a workshop in Woods Hole and a day-long program at the Boston Arts Academy. The making of HoverDive is documented in a video made by Ari Daniel Shapiro and Amanda Kowalski.
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