ASA Awards Grant to Workshop on Embodied Cognition and Dance

The American Society for Aesthetics has awarded a grant of $5,000 in support of the Workshop on Embodied Cognition and Dance - Spatial Dynamics, Aesthetics, and Learning in Dance, to be held at Merrimack College October 20-22, 2023. Organized by Dr. Christian Kronsted, a Fellow at Merrimack, the workshop will be free and open to the public.

The interdisciplinary conference brings together cognitive science, philosophy of dance, dance studies, and aesthetics to break down methodological boundaries and facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration. It will take place at the brand-new robotics center at the College. The project is collaborating with Boston urban dance non-profit The Flavor Continues to identify local dance artists to perform, speak, and participate in the event. Speakers from a variety of disciplines will present at the conference. In addition, six open speaking slots have been reserved and will be selected through a call for abstracts to be announced in April. Presentations will be made both in person and on-line.

Dr. Kronsted wrote his dissertation on cognitive science and dance improvisation at the University of Memphis, Department of Philosophy and is co-artistic director of the urban dance company Stylin' Out Network (Chicago). He is also a Co-PI on the joint research project The Spatial Dynamics of Embodied Social Sensemaking (Drexel University, Columbia University, Merrimack College).

As more information becomes available, it will be posted on the ASA Web site and the conference web site (http://www.embodiedcognitionanddance.wordpress.com)