Fibonacci the Performance
Mathematics lecturer - Louise Walker
(Manchester University)
Composer - John Maycraft
Choreography - Ludus Dance Company
Project Evaluator - Peter Kidd
(MVA Consultancy)
Dance - Kathryn Bytyqui
Mathematics - Fiona Elcomb
Music - Teresa Bagnoli
Cameo Appearance - Dr. Ron Knott
Light/Sound - Stuart Hill
Community Liaison Officer - Nick Raey
House Manager - Geraldine Walkington
Performers - 8 Musicians & 8 Dancers
Background and context
The aim of the project was to make connections between different subject areas (maths, music and dance) so that pupils could understand and experience how to transfer knowledge from one discipline to another, participating in a flexible approach to learning. Through the collaboration, teachers learned how other areas of study could impact on and enhance their own; so that they might incorporate aspects of other subject areas into their teaching.
We wanted to use mathematics to create dance and music sequences for the basis of a stage performance. As a result, pupils created their own music score and contemporary dance piece based on their own research and exploration of the Fibonacci numbers.
The project ran from February to July 2008, with final performances on July 9th, 14th, 15th and 18th. The teachers of the specific subject areas were asked to nominate pupils to participate who would, in their opinion, benefit most from the project’s experience.
In the beginning
The initial session involving both teachers and performers was vital to the project’s success. None of the leading group had worked collaboratively in any other field except their own, so it was particularly helpful and refreshing to be able to meet and discuss ideas and interpretations.
Manchester University Maths Lecturer, Louise Walker, led the first session and explained to the group what the Fibonacci sequence was, where it came from and how it could be used. After this, creative possibilities relating to the Fibonacci sequence were discussed in relation to dance and music. As Louise had not worked with physical creativity before, she was interested in the direct effect of number on the way musicians and dancers worked.
Dr Ron Knott and John Maycraft met to discuss composers who had used Fibonacci to create music. John described this as an eye opener. He had not realised the implications of number sequence before, and although music and composition is number based, looking at Fibonacci opened up a whole new aspect to his own work. Unfortunately Dr. Ron Knott’s contribution to the project was limited due to other commitments (including attending the International Conference on Fibonacci in Greece).
Louise Walker ran maths workshops for the pupils and their teachers. Pupils played around with the concept mathematically in the first part, to get them familiar with discussing number outside of a traditional maths lesson. This was unfamiliar territory for both teachers and pupils as they had an opportunity to work together in a more informal setting, away from everyday work distractions and school bells.
In the second session, pupils divided into groups of musicians and dancers with one person being involved in both groups. This session saw the pupils interpreting Fibonacci into dance and/or music. Peter Kidd (MVA Consultancy and Project Evaluator) supported this session, getting the groups to physically draw their thoughts. They started to draw out the Golden Rectangle and the Golden Spiral. They could physically see Fibonacci at work and this helped them to develop their ideas into dance and music.
Project development
The Musicians:
With John Maycraft’s guidance, the group developed their initial ideas with their instruments; lead guitar, bass guitar, saxophone, clarinet and drums. John had created a CD to help them understand the power of Fibonacci. In this second session the musicians devised their piece of music and recorded their parts, using their understanding of Fibonacci to provide the beat and interpretation. It was a long, hard session and the final result was passed on to the dancers.
The Dancers:
The group worked with both the Dance teacher and Ludus Dance Company.
Due to the time lapse, an additional session was organised to help the pupils re-enforce their understanding of the Fibonacci sequence. They also used the visual stimulus of Dr. Ron Knott’s website to help them interpret the sequence into dance. There were thirteen dancers initially involved but only eight of those completed the project. The dancers who did not complete the project had found it difficult to interpret an abstract concept through contemporary dance and therefore withdrew. The remaining dancers developed their ideas around spirals, beats, and number sequence to great effect.
Performance
The public performance was on the July 9th as part of the Community Arts Festival. The professionalism of the group, and the concept of a dance, music and maths performance in our opinion quite stole the show.
Project feedback
What a stunning performance, so professional and engaging. Please ask the group to perform in all the assemblies next week.
(Mrs. Moss, Headteacher)
I was mesmerised by the music, I was hooked, wanting to see at all again.
(Mrs Crawshaw, Teacher)
The first session with Louise Walker and Peter Kidd showed us in detail, the power of Fibonacci. It was extremely interesting to find out about the Golden Ratio etc. The next sessions were purely music based. We spent time both on computers and in the music rooms experimenting and composing. The music was based on Fibonacci up to 5, which both hindered and helped in the composition of the piece. It was fantastic to see how the dancers interpreted our music, and the sequence.
(Musician)
We went to sessions with Louise Walker and Peter Kidd and learned what Fibonacci was, how to draw it and see it visually. A group of us worked with John Maycraft to compose a piece based on the sequence. We had loads of fun using our instruments and being creative. We all came up with our separate parts, and worked with John to come up with the final composition.
Hearing the final piece for the first time was awesome, especially because I could pick out my contribution and relate it to Fibonacci. I loved watching what the dancers had come up with because it was unique and I hadn’t seen anything like it before. I have really enjoyed the Fibonacci experience and thank everyone for letting me be a part of it.
(Musician)
It was very interesting to be part of the project. We looked at different diagrams such as the Golden Spiral, and Mrs Walkington showed us some abstract paintings that artists had done. When we listened to the music the other group had done, at first it was strange, and we wondered how we could dance. However, with Ludus Dance Company and our teacher, we used the shapes of the Golden Spiral, and because the music was in five blocks of different speeds and instruments, we could interpret that into a contemporary dance piece. I was nervous performing it at first, because for me it was so different than the music I’ve danced to before, but the audience loved it, and the next day, teachers were coming up to me and congratulating us all on the performance.
(Dancer)