Local Dance Company “Deconstructs” da Vinci, Notebooks and STEAM

Connecticut choreographer and artistic director Sonia Plumb promises Hartford an evening of dynamic discussion when she presents “Dance of da Vinci: The Notebooks and S.T.E.A.M.” In partnership with respected Trinity College faculty member Sean Cocco, the evening will feature a joint lecture entitled “Deconstructing Leonardo’s Notebooks,” followed by an engaging panel discussion focused on S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), delving into intriguing connections between the arts and science.

Upward Hartford – the Capital City’s popular co-working space – will host this compelling event on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019 from 6-8 p.m. Tickets will be available for $15 at the door or $10 online prior to the event at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/deconstructing-da-vincis-notebooks-tickets-53909835770?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

The panel discussion, which will be moderated by WNPR/Connecticut Public Radio’s Chion Wolf, will feature a discussion on da Vinci’s inquiries and his ability to spark curiosity and advance knowledge in the 21st Century. Stand-out panelists include: Rachel McAnallen, a nationally-renowned mathematics educator; Amy Lamenzo, an international sculptor and visual artist; and Caitlin Kenealy, an experienced Hartford-based Biology teacher.

“Just as Leonardo da Vinci recognized the importance of embracing knowledge in all its forms, our goal is to create an opportunity for humanists and scientists to come together and spark interdisciplinary dialogue,” said Plumb.

The evening’s presentation draws on “The Dance of da Vinci 2.0,” an extension of the full-length dance concert that Sonia Plumb Dance Company debuted this past April at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford. Inspired by the life and works of the noted artist, inventor, and scientist, Plumb’s work uses dance, music, and projections to explore the inextricable connection between humanism, science, and art, based on da Vinci’s notebooks.

“At a time when the value of the arts and humanities is the subject of debate, and scientific fact is being dismissed as a hoax, creating points of entry like this for important conversations is vital for humanity to flourish, not simply survive – something Leonardo already knew long ago,” remarked Plumb.

The event on Jan. 31 will be recorded by Hartford-based Burning Sun Films. The resulting videos will accompany the ”Dance of da Vinci 2.0” tour, premiering in March 2019 at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Conn. The tour will continue in the state’s Waterbury and New London counties later this year.