Almost 700 schoolchildren from Aberdeen will use dance and movement to bring the power of nature to life at a special event next week (November 9, 1999).
The youngsters from 14 primary schools in the city will demonstrate key scientific ideas of pattern formation through a highly visual display involving music, lighting and dance as part of an exciting and innovative project by the University of Aberdeen and the City Council.
Patterns for Free is a collaboration between the University of Aberdeen’s Department of Plant and Soil Science and the Council’s City Moves Dance Space, which was awarded one of four grants of £10,083 by the Scottish Arts Council for Innovation in the Arts, Science and New Technology.
Experts in computer simulation, pattern formation and choreography from the University and City Moves Dance Space, including the Education Department’s dance artist in residence Laura Greaves, have developed simple rule sets that have been taught to P6 and P7 pupils and their teachers over the past few weeks.
The children from all the different schools will meet for the first time on the day of the performance (Tuesday, November 9) in the Music Hall in front of some 500 invited guests and parents. A representative of the Scottish Arts Council will formally launch the event, which starts at 7.30pm.
Dr Jim McDonald, who directs the Project from the University’s Department of Plant and Soil Science, said a lot of hard work has gone into preparing Patterns for Free and making sure that it all comes together.
“This has been a very exciting project, not only for the City Council and the University, but also for the children of Aberdeen who have been involved,” he said.
“It has been highly educational and good fun getting scientists and artists talking to each other! Matt Aitkenhead of the University, who has done the computing, and Louise Marshall and her colleagues at City Moves, who have developed and taught the dance routines, have been fantastic. They have been tremendously well supported by Jacqueline McKay and her colleagues from the City Education Department.
“The children will meet for the first time on the day of the launch and it is only then that we will be able to see the full impact of the performance they have been working on. It promises to be really quite dramatic, as the youngster will all be dressed in something dark and lighting and props to illustrate their performance.”
The Council’s Arts Education Co-ordinator Jacqueline McKay said: “This has been a prime opportunity to introduce hundreds of schoolchildren to exciting new areas of science and art in a fun way.
“The educational benefits are clear, and the project demonstrates the range of innovative and imaginative ways public bodies and institutions can work together.”
Louise Marshall, of City Moves Dance Space, said: “There has been great enthusiasm among the youngsters involved. They have been eager to learn the routines and there is a real sense of anticipation in the run-up to the performance.”
MEDIA OPPORTUNITY: Journalists and photographers are invited to attend a dress rehearsal of Patterns for Free, which will take place in the Music Hall between 3-5pm on the day of the performance (Tuesday, November 9). Groups of the children will be practising their routines with the assistance of music and props and interviews will be possible with Jim McDonald, Jacqueline McKay and Louise Marshall.