ATOM>LIGHT>DANCE
We decided to share how much of the colour in the world has its origins in the oscillations of atoms and molecules. They are like tiny musical instruments, but instead of emitting notes of sound, they emit notes of colour. Each atom has its own unique set of colours which it loves to absorb and emit. When arranged against the full rainbow spectrum of light these colour notes look like a beautiful barcode, like the neon spectrum shown here.
In the workshop, participants view these beautiful atomic spectra through hand-held spectroscopes and then don headphones to hear from physicists how they are formed. Then contemporary dance artists show everyone how to become hydrogen atoms absorbing and emitting mellow red, swinging green or hummingbird high frequency blue light*.
After the introductions to atomic physics and contemporary dance, everyone is released to choose their light colours and dance. The floor fills with dancers, their headphones glowing red, green or blue, signalling their music choices.
The images above are of guests at our first event at the Imperial Late in November 2022, where we hosted three sessions of 40 people each. At the Imperial Festival in May 2023, we welcomed around 400 guests and shown below are their answers to the question, ‘How does it feel to be a dancing atom?’.
In the workshop, participants view these beautiful atomic spectra through hand-held spectroscopes and then don headphones to hear from physicists how they are formed. Then contemporary dance artists show everyone how to become hydrogen atoms absorbing and emitting mellow red, swinging green or hummingbird high frequency blue light*.
After the introductions to atomic physics and contemporary dance, everyone is released to choose their light colours and dance. The floor fills with dancers, their headphones glowing red, green or blue, signalling their music choices.
The images above are of guests at our first event at the Imperial Late in November 2022, where we hosted three sessions of 40 people each. At the Imperial Festival in May 2023, we welcomed around 400 guests and shown below are their answers to the question, ‘How does it feel to be a dancing atom?’.