Physics of Dance events at the University of Illinois

The Physics of Dance:
Kenneth Laws visits the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Kenneth Laws spent four days at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in September, 2002, conducting a variety of events concerning the connection between physics and classical ballet technique. Laws, a Professor of Physics Emeritus at Dickinson College, is an expert on the subject with three books and numerous journal articles to his credit. While on campus he taught several classes at the Department of Dance, presented the subject to physicists at a Physics Department Colloquium, delivered a CAS/MillerComm lecture to the interested public at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, and held a very active afternoon session with University High School subfreshmen.

A scanned image of the MillerComm poster is here.

Here is a link to George Gollin's Physics of Dance web pages.

We kept Ken very busy during his visit! His schedule included the following events:

Rehearse presentations with UIUC dancers Kim Young and Trish Weidmann
Work with Professor Rebecca Nettl-Fiol's Dance 345 class (Dance Kinesiology and Somatics)
Teach physics-based dance masterclass to combined Dance 266 (Ballet II) and Dance 366 (Ballet III)
WILL-AM Afternoon Magazine broadcast interview
Physics Department Colloquium The Physics of Dance, assisted by UIUC dance student Kim Young
Lunch with Physics Society undergraduate students
The Physics of Dance presentation for University High School subfreshmen at the Colwell Playhouse, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Assisted by UIUC dance student Trish Weidmann.
Teach physics-based partnered dancing workshop at the Department of Dance.
CAS/MillerComm Lecture for the interested public: The Physics of Dance, Colwell Playhouse, KCPA. Assisted by Trish Weidmann.
Saturday Physics Honors Program presentation at the Department of Physics. Assisted by Kim Young.
Physics-based ballet class at the Champaign Park District's Springer Cultural Center for local dance students. Assisted by Kim Young.

We photographed many of Ken's presentations. Since pictures were taken with a Canon PowerShot S30 hand-held digital camera, often using available light, some will show the effects of motion blur or camera vibration. Some of the shots would benefit from Photoshop work to rebalance and crop the images.

Each of the pages in the following links displays a number of thumbnail images linked to larger images.

Comments or question? Contact George Gollin at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

Comments or question?
Contact George Gollin at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.