Math and Dance collide in a new work.

The team at NC State LIVE has a passion for merging the performing arts with STEM fields. When we heard about a collaboration between local choreographer, Michelle Pearson, and NC State math professor, Dr. Tye Lidman, we couldn’t help but jump on board and help bring the project to life!

Black Box Dance Theatre (Pearson’s company) has joined forces with Dr. Lidman to present Applied Dance + Inspired Mathematics, an innovative interdisciplinary performance that will highlight mathematical concepts through dance. This world premiere showcase explores the complexities, questions, and deeply human connections discovered in Dr. Lidman’s mathematical research in topology, knot theory, and the 4th dimension.

Applied Dance + Inspired Mathematics
Dates: September 22nd at 7:30 pm and September 23rd at 2:00 pm
Location: Stewart Theatre, Talley Student Union
Tickets are available here.

This unique partnership between science and dance developed from Dr. Lidman’s application for a competitive grant from the National Science Foundation to further his work in low-dimensional topology. In writing the grant, Dr. Lidman wanted to add value to his research by creating a performance to broaden its impact. He reached out to Michelle Pearson, Artistic Director of Black Box Dance Theatre, a nonfiction, modern dance company based in Raleigh, NC. Lidman and Pearson engaged in numerous conversations about mathematics and movement and what they have in common regarding the fundamental notion of shape. The result of this unconventional partnership is Applied Dance + Inspired Mathematics, which promises to be an exciting, multi-media exhibition featuring dancers from Black Box Dance, Theatre, NC State’s Math Department, NC State’s Dance Program and others.

Funded in part by the National Science Foundation, NC State LIVE, and the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County, tickets are on sale now for the performances at NC State’s Stewart Theatre in Raleigh, NC.

About Black Box Dance Theatre:
Black Box Dance Theatre is a non-profit organization based in Raleigh that celebrates local and global communities through non-fiction dance. The modern dance company has expertise in creating dances that are relevant and inspirational. Michelle Pearson steps in as Artistic Curator and is joined by a diverse troupe (including a hip-hop artist, a ballerina, an engineer, and an Army Veteran/ Wounded Warrior) in bringing exceptional performance art to stages, classrooms and audiences around the world. The company believes the best way to understand something differently or deeper, is to make a dance about it. Learn more at BlackBoxDanceTheatre.org