This immersive session weaves history, performance, visual media, and embodied exploration. Participants will be introduced to the aesthetic and technical foundations of Bharatanatyam while discovering how mathematical ideas—such as infinity and fractals—can be experienced through movement.

No prior experience in dance or mathematics is required. The workshop is designed to be accessible, engaging, and experiential.

Participation is free.
A free ticket is required as spaces are limited. If you are unable to attend after registering, please let us know so your spot can be offered to someone else.

Workshop Structure

Part 1 | Foundations (30 minutes)

• Introduction to the history of Bharatanatyam
• Overview of Bharatanatyam technique
• Live performance of traditional pieces

Part 2 | Math & Movement (30 minutes)

• Illustrated presentation on intersections of mathematics and Bharatanatyam
  (including concepts such as infinity and fractals, using slides and short films)
• Introduction to Janani’s research and book
• Reflection and Q&A

Part 3 | Embodied Exploration (60 minutes)

• Hands-on movement workshop exploring mathematical ideas through dance

Tickets available here

Abstract:

The words ’algorithm’ and ’pattern’ are synonymous, but where the former stands for unfathomable technologies of control, and the latter stands for culturally-situated technologies of craft. By bringing them together, we can find alternative, long histories for contemporary technology, as well as imagine alternative technologies that are more grounded, and more open to change. Through this talk, I’ll explore these possibilities by comparing heritage algorithms in textile culture with the developing use of patterns in live coding culture, particularly in music performance.

Abstract

In use, the term ‘artificial intelligence’ is often conflated with the idea of the ‘algorithm’. As protesters chant “fuck the algorithm”, AI and algorithms in general have become known as technologies of control; practically unexplainable, yet governing what we read on social media, what we see in search results, and how we are ourselves profiled and assessed.

Will AI tech culture continue to accelerate towards information and environmental overload, or will it hit a conceptual and/or financial brick wall, allowing us to relax back into yet another AI winter? In either case, we propose a post-AI future, based on an alternative history of algorithms as patterns.

Algorithmic patterns are creative, culturally-embedded ways to work beyond our imaginations, where complex and surprising results can result from the combination of simple parts (or rules). Humans have explored algorithmic patterns obsessively, across practices and in many forms, for millennia. This can be seen in ancient practices such as geometric Kolam drawings, the discrete mathematics of textile weaves and braids, or more recent developments such as juggling siteswap patterns, and creative code-based practices such as live coding.

Through our presentation we will introduce Algorithmic Pattern as an emerging, interdisciplinary field of research and practice. We will showcase examples of various algorithmic pattern contributions whose outcomes are deterministic yet unpredictable, as they emerge into great complexity from simplicity. This will include our own work in Kolam drawing and live coding. Through this we will signal a Luddite reclaiming of algorithms as technologies of human craftwork. When AI has exhausted itself, we shall return to human-centric algorithmic patterns, which offers us rich ways of making that are easy to learn but taking lifetimes to explore.

For full details including the call for contributions, please see alpaca.pubpub.org/2023

Participants will be invited to explore both the historical and contemporary use of algorithmic practices in pattern making. In a hands on session, we will be learning the practice of tablet weaving, where cards are twisted and flipped to make complex, three dimensional braiding patterns. We will approach this ancient practice from the perspective of live coders, using a web-based code interface to guide our real-world braids. Reflecting on this, the second part of the workshop will explore patterns in algorithmic music, and in audiovisual algorithmic art. Through this, we aim to gain deeper understanding of patterns in live coding practice, and discover ways in which we could take them further.

The workshop will take place between two connected hubs in Barcelona and Sheffield, as part of on_the_fly_collect() festival. We plan to share parts of the event streamed online – more details soon.

Programme:

• Morning: Live coding tablet weaves, lead by Dave Griffiths (Then Try This), followed by reflection and discussion
• Afternoon: Live coding patterns in music and a/v, lead by Iván Paz / Elizabeth Wilson / Alex McLean, followed by discussion
• Outcomes: small woven bands, altered perspectives, new connections between ancient and contemporary practice

For the fifth instalment of the algorithmic pattern talk series, Sarah, a dialogue aficianado, was joined by Alex McLean for an interview-style chat about her work and ideas — including what analog video art has taught her about approaching the digital; historic video cruft; and the perfection of imperfection. Watch the archive of the talk below:

Biography

Sarah Groff Hennigh-Palermo is an artist, programmer, and erstwhile data designer. Her work focuses on using the digital in a manner that can transcend its squalid and militaristic roots and reach out towards the sublime. She has created data-obscured art sites, new computer languages, and hybrid nostalgia machines. Computer errors are her best friends.

Sarah is an alumna of the School for Poetic Computation, Recurse Center, Brown University, and NYU Tandon School of Engineering. In addition to a solo exhibition as part of Wallplay’s On Canal series, she has taken part in group shows at Sonar+D, Westbeth, Day for Night, Flux Factory, and Denver Supernova.

Previous Talks by Sarah Groff Hennigh-Palermo

• Conversations with Computers: Day 2 — 2021
• Codie Presents — SIIDS 202)
• Undermining Computing — Eyeo 2019
• Kablooie: A History of Errors — JSConf EU 2018