Astrophysics through dance

During Manchester’s year as European City of Science 2016, Dance Manchester – the dance development organisation for Greater Manchester – collaborated with the Science & Engineering Education Research and Innovation Hub of the University of Manchester to explore the communication of contemporary astrophysics through contemporary dance. Teaching astrophysics through dance has therefore been the project of both academics and dancers in Manchester, and through future collaboration it seems the team will instil an understanding of their similarities in the way the two sides work.

The idea behind the collaboration began when the Science & Engineering Education Research and Innovation Hub was focusing on bringing dance to the Great Primary Science Share, an event held at Manchester Town Hall back in July. This led to the creation of Stellarium, a youth dance performance which moved on to communicating contemporary astrophysics through contemporary dance. Through the partnership both sides gained access to new expertise, contexts and audiences.

Over 200 primary school children saw Stellarium at the Great Primary Science Share, and it was also seen by secondary school students at the Great Science Share Takeover at the Museum of Science and Industry. It was performed at outdoor community events too, including Manchester Day, organised by Walk the Plank, and as part of Signatures Youth Dance Trail – a project with the Lowry – presented as part of UDance, the national youth dance festival. As a result, a new genre was profiled for dance.

Stellarium was led by an all-female team, bringing together a female choreographer alongside three female astrophysicists, arising from a partnership started by two female leaders. Both the dance and science sectors have issues around a limited profile for women so this is positive. Following the collaboration, Dance Manchester is now piloting Moving Space, a Stellarium spin-off, providing other schools and colleges with the opportunity to supplement the existing curriculum with this different approach to learning, using dance to communicate science.