Science, Art & Mind
The Crystallization of Dance
A poetic encounter between crystal and body: uncovering the hidden links between crystallography, modern dance and flamenco.
The Crystallization of Dance (La cristalización de la danza) is a bold and original performance-lecture that explores the deep, and often overlooked, historical connections between crystallography and modern artistic expression, especially modern dance and flamenco.
At the heart of this project is the encounter between crystallographer Juan Manuel Garcia-Ruiz and dancer and choreographer Vanesa Aibar, a creative crossroads where science meets movement. The performance draws inspiration from the legacy of Rudolf Laban, the Slovak architect who laid the foundations for modern dance with a vision deeply rooted in crystalline order, and Vicente Escudero, a flamenco icon who brought a geometric vision to his art.
All in Order: The Impact of the Crystal Idea on Order and Thought
Through specially designed stage devices, movement, and visual storytelling, the project dives into crystalline symmetry and the abstract beauty of mineral forms—conveying how these structures have helped shape not only our scientific worldview but also the grammar of modern and flamenco dance.
Based on the keynote lecture «All in Order: The Impact of the Crystal Idea on Order and Thought», this immersive performance invites audiences to reflect on the duality between the inorganic abstraction of crystals and the organic empathy of human expression—two forces that converge in a poetic dialogue on stage.
With music by María Marín, and choreography developed in collaboration with scientific themes, the show aims to spark wonder, curiosity, and a deeper appreciation for the unseen symmetries that connect science and the arts.
About the speaker
Juan Manuel García-Ruiz
Prof. Juan Manuel García-Ruiz (Seville, Spain, 1953) is an Ikerbasque Professor at the DIPC and an honorary Research Professor at the CSIC. His research focuses on the study of crystallization phenomena in fields such as the formation of giant crystals, self-organization in biological and geological structures with implications for the origin of life, the detection of primitive life, and the manufacture of new materials. He directs the ambitious European ERC-Synergy project «Protos» and is a cultural activist committed to promoting scientific culture and exploring the interface between art and science.
Vanesa Aibar
Vanesa Aibar is a dancer and creator from Jaén (Spain) who develops her work based on Spanish dance and flamenco until she ends up with a modern, free and aesthetic dance. She has received several awards throughout her career, the most recent being the Max Award for Best Dance Show for La Reina del Metal in 2023.
María Marín
María is a singer and guitarist born in Utrera (Spain). She trained in classical guitar in the Netherlands and is an artist with an open vision of flamenco who has also collaborated on jazz, classical, and world music projects with major international artists such as Carles Benavent, Tomatito, Antonio Serrano or Javier Colina.
