The Wharton Center original commission: Of Equal Place: Isotopes in Motion returned to East Lansing to refresh and expand the show as well as open collaboration with multiple community partners.

Dance and science.  

These two seemingly at odds concepts have much more in common than we think. That’s why Wharton Center, the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), Dance Exchange, and local Mid-Michigan dance companies came together to collaborate on a multimedia dance piece that explores the nuclear physics work being done at FRIB, through dance and movement. 

 

Concept 

The Wharton Center original commission: Of Equal Place: Isotopes in Motion returned to East Lansing to refresh and expand the show as well as open collaboration with multiple community partners. The success of the 2022 iteration showcased the opportunity for storytelling and engagement with science education. The goal of this engaging partnership was to provide a creative way to inspire individuals to see themselves as the next dancers, researchers, and innovators. Though the show was reshaped since its 2022 debut, the original questions remained the same: Who can dance? Who can be a scientist? And how can we challenge people to do both?  

“Dance and science are truly a marriage made in Heavan. Both sides go together so well because we are speaking each other’s language. When you come together and have a conversation it’s like “oh yeah, we’re all on the same page. We all understand what we are trying to do” and that curiosity connects us all.”- Keith T., Creative Director and Choreographer, Dance Exchange

“Science and dance are both about having a sense of inspiration. That drive to find something new, wanting to innovate, explore, make mistakes and discover something. You do that creatively and artistically with your body in dance and then in science it’s on another playing field.” - Clara M., Dance Director, Everett High School for the Visual and Performing Arts​

 

Community 

Both the dance and the science communities in this project left a lasting impression on each other. Rehearsal studios were filled with joy, laughter, and vulnerability. When asked about the process, dancers and instructors from All of the Above Hip Hop Academy, Everett High School Dance Company, Greater Lansing Ballet Company and Happendance emphasized the importance of this collaboration.  

“The community has been so welcoming, and it’s been great to work with such a diverse group of people. It’s been the most diverse group of people I have ever danced with, and it’s been great finding a home together in science and dance.”- Paulina R., Dancer, Greater Lansing Ballet Company  

“I feel so inspired by the different levels of partnerships and collaborations within this project. I feel like it’s so accessible and empowering not only for our students, but by bringing the different community togethers. We all have different strengths, and we are all coming to the table as equal partners.” -Clara M., Dance Director, Everett High School for the Visual and Performing Arts​

“This whole thing has been really cool. It’s a little surreal. I’ve been dancing my whole life and I want to do it professionally, so it’s cool to work with professionals and see what their lives look like and experience that with them.” - Gianna A., Dancer, Everett Dance Company

 

Impact 

Having the ability to look at complex concepts through a unique avenue is the driving force for both FRIB and Wharton Center. At Wharton Center, we know the arts have the power to change lives, just as FRIB’s mission is to make discoveries that positively impact humankind. While both organizations do so through different means, the impact of this project is the ability to come to the table together and discover we speak the same language.  

“Anyone who is interested in science or anyone that’s interested in dance can do both! I came into this project as someone that’s mostly interested in dance. I was never a huge fan of science, but I started to see the deeper qualities that connect both worlds and how it too is a beautiful subject in its own right.” -Paulina R., Dancer, Greater Lansing Ballet Company  

“I have loved seeing the lightbulbs go off in students. Like “oh my gosh this is what college is like? This is what you do for a living? That’s what they do for a living? Just that realization that you don’t have to be placed in a box and you have so many different options. And even as you see the cast it’s folks in high school all the way up into their eighties. You don’t have to put yourself in a box and you can excel at many different things at the same time." - Ami D. Director, Dance Exchange 

In November, Of Equal Place: Isotopes in Motion was presented to over 1900 students throughout Michigan.