In this fifth episode of Choreographing the City at MIT, Dr Adesola Akinleye and Professor Gediminas Urbonas are joined by Tongan philosopher Hūfanga Dr ‘Ōkusitino Māhina in the fifth of my Choreographing the City residency’s morning conversation series; with comments and questions from Adriana Lear and Maui-TāVā-He-Ako Professor Tēvita O. Ka’ili. 

‘In the last conversation the notion of choreography is discussed almost as an instrument in a process beyond it. My relationship with or meaning for choreography is as a method that emerges from methodologies that involve (or even center) around a somatic empirical ontological understanding of being present in the world. To this end Dr Māhina shares understanding for how the human experience is part of the wider web of existence of which I see dance (or the bodily of the somatic) as a method (of many) for meaning making. Thus, choreography is a method for understanding the transaction of self with space/time that is Place. Dr Māhina offers modes for revealing this interconnection and inter separation grounded in Tonga philosophy particularly Tā/Vā-ism. My own methodological framework is grounded in a Lakota (and Yoruba) worldview, of which these indigenous philosophies share some similarities, particularly the sense of interwoven relationship of human with environment rather than human over environment. When we dance, we have an inkling of what it is to be a part of it all.’ - Adesola

This podcast is the result of the Morning Conversation series held in the Fall 2020 Choreographing the City class, offered by the Art, Culture and Technology Program at MIT in partnership with Theatrum Mundi and Professor Richard Sennett. The course was taught by Professor Gediminas Urbonas, and the MIT Center for Art, Science, and Technology's visiting artist, choreographer Dr. Adesola Akinleye.

Dr. Akinleye’s residency looks at emerging lexicons for movement in urban space that connect to ideas shared across dance-making and choreography to city-making and building community.
This series of eight episodes is hosted by Dr. Adesola Akinleye, Professor Gediminas Urbonas, and Chucho Ocampo Aguilar.


References and further reading: 
Akinleye, A. (2015) Her life in Movement: Reflections on embodiment as a methodology chapter in Wellard, Ian (Ed.) Researching Embodied Sport: Exploring movement cultures, Routledge, pp.178-196 Reference for further reading about dance as a method meaning making in world discussed in conversation 

Baker, A. J. (1986). Australian realism: the systematic philosophy of John Anderson. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
John Anderson is referred to by Hūfanga 

Hegel, G. W. F., & Nisbet, H. B. (1975). Lectures on the philosophy of world history, Vā introductio : Reason in history. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hegel is referred to by Hūfanga

Māhina, O. (2004). Art as Tã-Vã 'Time-Space' transformation. Auckland, New Zealand: Center for Pacific Studies, University of Auckland.

(2017) Tã-Vã (Time-Space) Theory* of reality (special issue)  Jonathan Napela Center for Hawaiian & Pacific Studies, Republic of Fiji: Pacific Theological College. Vol 40:1/2
*now theory is replaced by philosophy.
 
Ka‘ili, T. O. (2017). Marking Indigeneity: The Tongan Art of Sociospatial Relations: USA: The University of Arizona Press  
Reference for further reading about ‘Separating limitations from possibilities’ 

Other info: 
Date of conversation November 2nd / 3rd 2020 

Key words:
Time/space, tā-vā, Tongan philosophy, intersectionality, connection /disconnection

Choreographing the City - Ep. 5 | Improvisations in Time/Space, Form/Content

In this sixth episode of Choreographing the City at MIT, Dr. Adesola Akinleye and Professor Gediminas Urbonas are joined by philosopher Dr Scott L. Pratt, with further comments from Ms Dianne McIntyre. 

‘In the conversation Dr Pratt discusses his theory on Logic of Place which I have used extensively in my work particularly in the monograph Dance, Architecture and Engineering (Dance in Dialogue). Dr Pratt’s notions of The Logic of Place, boundary, and Logic of Home draws on a number of Native American nations worldviews with interesting echoes of the importance of regarding the intra-connection of land, humans and non-humans as vital (as discussed in the previous podcast with Hûfanga Dr Okusitino Mahina). I feel dance-choreography involves knowledges that allow us to become aware of or make porous the construction for Place that emerges from the conversation.’ – Adesola 

This podcast is the result of the Morning Conversation series held in the Fall 2020 Choreographing the City class, offered by the Art, Culture and Technology Program at MIT in partnership with Theatrum Mundi and Professor Richard Sennett. The course was taught by Professor Gediminas Urbonas, and the MIT Center for Art, Science, and Technology's visiting artist, choreographer Dr. Adesola Akinleye.

Dr. Akinleye’s residency looks at emerging lexicons for movement in urban space that connect to ideas shared across dance-making and choreography to city-making and building community.
This series of eight episodes is hosted by Dr. Adesola Akinleye, Professor Gediminas Urbonas, and Chucho Ocampo Aguilar.

References and further reading:
Akinleye, A (forthcoming April 2021) Dance, Architecture and Engineering (Dance in Dialogue), London/New York: Bloomsbury 
Reference for further reading about dance and logic of place, the demonic and choreographing the city.

Barad, K. M. (2007). Meeting the universe halfway: quantum physics and the entanglement of matter and meaning. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press ; Chesham : Combined Academic [distributor].
Referred to in the conversation by Scott

Deloria Jr., V., & Wildcat, D. R. (2001). Power and Place: indian Education in America USA: Fulcrum Publishing; First printing, Underlining edition.
Referred to in the conversation by Scott

Deloria, V. (1994). God is red: a native view of religion (Updated ed. ed.). Golden, Colo.: North American Press.
Referred to in the conversation by Scott

McKittrick, K. (2006). Demonic grounds : black women and the cartographies of struggle. Minneapolis ; London: University of Minnesota Press.
Referred to in the conversation by Adesola and Scott

Pratt, S. L. (2002). Native pragmatism : rethinking the roots of American philosophy. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.
Referred to in the conversation by Adesola and Scott

Other info: 
Date of conversation November 9th 2020 


Key words:
agency, intra-action, Place, Logic of Place, power, entanglement, demonic, land

Choreographing the City - Ep. 6 | Agency and the Demonic

In this seventh episode of Choreographing the City at MIT, Dr. Adesola Akinleye and Professor Gediminas Urbonas are joined by urban theorist and director of Theatrum Mundi Dr John Bingham-Hall. 

‘Moving forward from the notion of agency and things having their own futures proposed in the last conversation with Dr Pratt, this episode looks at a number of research projects combining ideas from urbanism and the arts, carried out by Theatrum Mundi. We particularly discuss how infrastructural ways of thinking can help us understand what makes places work as active forms, rather than finished artefacts. Dr Bingham-Hall discusses looking at scores as offers of possibility and how this notion can be used as an instrumental approach to design. This speaks to the concept of four-dimensional space that Dr Mahina discusses in episode five: how we create art or cities that are four-dimensional (in movement, emerging, ever connecting and separating) seeing the lived-experience (or the matrix of mind-ful-body in environment) as including the temporal in order to be in relationship with […]. To be in relationship with […] being a key notion across all the Morning Conversations and my residency in general.’ - Adesola

This podcast is the result of the Morning Conversation series held in the Fall 2020 Choreographing the City class, offered by the Art, Culture and Technology Program at MIT in partnership with Theatrum Mundi and Professor Richard Sennett. The course was taught by Professor Gediminas Urbonas, and the MIT Center for Art, Science, and Technology's visiting artist, choreographer Dr. Adesola Akinleye.

Dr. Akinleye’s residency looks at emerging lexicons for movement in urban space that connect to ideas shared across dance-making and choreography to city-making and building community.
This series of eight episodes is hosted by Dr. Adesola Akinleye, Professor Gediminas Urbonas, and Chucho Ocampo Aguilar.

References and further reading:

Theatrum Mundi Library:
https://theatrum-mundi.org/library 

https://theatrum-mundi.org/?s=adesola%20Akinleye
To see Adesola’s work at Theatrum Mundi 

Scoring the city: 
Scoring the City http://scoring.city/
Referred at the beginning of the pod cast, with Gascia Ouzounian (Oxford University)

Sonic-urbanism:
https://theatrum-mundi.org/project/sonic-urbanism/

Urban Backstages:
https://theatrum-mundi.org/library/urbanbackstages-londonfieldwork/ 
Referred to particularly in terms of how artistic/ creative spaces are felt and their impact through this 

Easterling, K. (2016). Extrastatecraf : the power of infrastructure space. London / New York: Verso Books.
Referred to during the conversation by John (particularly ‘Knowing to… Knowing that…’)

Other info: 
Date of conversation November 16th 2020 

Key words:
urbanism, encounter, score, music, improvisation, infrastructure, embodied knowledge, possibility

Choreographing the City - Ep. 7 | Scores and Infrastructure, Instruction and Encounter

In this eighth and final episode of Choreographing the City at MIT, Dr. Adesola Akinleye and Professor Gediminas Urbonas are joined by eminent choreographer and educator Liz Lerman. 

‘This conversation brings together key ideas I feel have been generated from the residency so far. This includes some of the notions/language that I am taking forward as part of this interdisciplinary exploration of Choreographing the City - part of the lexicon we have been looking for. These key words are power (to and over), preciseness, improvisation/response/spontaneity, connection/disconnection, growth, resistance, boundary (not discussed in this conversation but also included in this list I am taking forward are agency, four-dimensional space, and score). Liz addresses this language in terms of how it manifests in her own practice. Together we share the magnitude, joy and importance of attempting to understand each other at the boundaries, membranes, edges that are perceived in order to shape ourselves/our disciplines/ our cities.’ - Adesola

This podcast is the result of the Morning Conversation series held in the Fall 2020 Choreographing the City class, offered by the Art, Culture and Technology Program at MIT in partnership with Theatrum Mundi and Professor Richard Sennett. The course was taught by Professor Gediminas Urbonas, and the MIT Center for Art, Science, and Technology's visiting artist, choreographer Dr. Adesola Akinleye.

Dr. Akinleye’s residency looks at emerging lexicons for movement in urban space that connect to ideas shared across dance-making and choreography to city-making and building community.
This series of eight episodes is hosted by Dr. Adesola Akinleye, Professor Gediminas Urbonas, and Chucho Ocampo Aguilar.

References and further reading:
Akinleye, A (forthcoming April 2021) Dance, Architecture and Engineering (Dance in Dialogue), London/New York: Bloomsbury 
Reference for further reading about dance interdisciplinary work, community and choreographing the city.

Lerman, L. (2011). Hiking the horizontal: field notes from a choreographer. Hanover, N.H.: Wesleyan University Press.
Referred to during the conversation by Liz

Lerman, L., & Borstel, J. (2003). Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Process: a method for getting useful feedback on anything you make from dance to dessert New York: Dance Exchange, Inc.
Referred to during the conversation by Liz

Other info: 
Date of conversation November 30th, 2020 

Key words: Classism, interdisciplinary, choreography, multiplicity, horizontal

Choreographing the City - Ep. 7 | Scores and Infrastructure, Instruction and Encounter

Art, Culture, and Technology program at MIT

Related tracks