Artists
Statement
I have been a dancer my entire life and am currently earning my BFA at Elon University while pursuing dance as a career. Dance is my primary form of artistic expression, and during my college studies I have explored the intersection of dance and mathematics. I have created several choreographic works that investigate mathematical ideas, particularly in knot theory. The piece I submitted to this exhibition is a still image created for a math-art class. While it does not show movement on stage, it aligns with my broader artistic practice by depicting dancers interacting with a knot structure.
Artworks
Interwoven Paths of Movement
27.5 x 21.25 x 2.5 cm
Digital print on cardstock
2025
Knots are closed curves that can be bent, stretched, and rearranged without self-intersections. A goal in knot theory is classifying knots using invariants. The danceability index, introduced by Karl Schaffer and formalized by Sol Addison, Nancy Scherich, and Lila Snodgrass, is an invariant that measures how many dancers are needed to traverse a knot. The danceability number is the minimum number of dancers needed to trace the diagram while following specific rules. This piece features the knot diagram 7₂, which has a danceability index of three. The figures are outlines of my body, each representing a dancer’s path. Together, their interwoven movements complete the knot and offer a visual representation of this mathematical concept.