A big reason why I like ballet more is because of the mental aspect. Ballet feels mentally challenging because you have to think and process corrections, exact placements, and counts constantly. While contemporary does require cognitive effort, it has never felt like the same type of mental work that ballet uses.

What I wondered was if these two movement styles that feel so different mentally would actually look different in my brain activity. Does contemporary really use less mental effort, or does it just use different cognitive processes than ballet?

Having done a science experiment with a headset that tracks brain waves, I realized that I could use that headset to help answer this question and better understand the underlying mechanisms behind these different styles of dance.

The experiment

The headset I used is called an electroencephalogram (EEG) headband, which allows you to monitor your brain waves in real time. While the headband (from Serenibrain on Amazon) is meant for meditation, it can actually be used for basic research.

I performed two trials by dancing in the headband, alternating between two minutes of a set plié combination and two minutes of contemporary improv (see detailed structure below if interested). I chose to do a plié combo I was familiar with as opposed to an entire ballet barre because it made the experiment easier to control and prevented external factors from affecting the data.

After data collection, I processed the data with Python and AI-assisted code to display the results in a visual manner.

Results!

Surprisingly, both contemporary improv and plié engaged the brain in similar amounts — but while improv showed relatively greater alpha and theta activity (frequency bands often associated with creativity and focused attention) plié showed relatively greater beta and gamma activity (waves often related to thinking and alertness). These results suggest that contemporary may not involve less mental engagement, but rather a different pattern of cognitive engagement.

Another thing I found interesting was that comparing my brain waves when I was at rest versus when I was dancing, it was clear that mental activity was significantly higher while dancing.

Finally, through my qualitative metrics recorded during each style of dance, I found that contemporary improv resulted in the most focus, creativity, and effort. But note that these numbers might be biased because I’m not very good at improv.

Takeaways

I had originally believed that ballet would result in “more thinking”, but I’ve seen that it’s not really about how much the brain is being activated and actually more about the different patterns of brain activity that occur during each style. I found that ballet and improv each involve their own type of mental engagement, which not only highlights the unique value each style offers but could also tie into the importance of being a versatile dancer.

I do want to note that the results I got from the experiment should not be considered on the same level as professional science. Because this study was exploratory, and used only one test subject (myself) and a low-quality headset, the data should be taken with a grain of salt. More experimentation would be needed to truly prove the findings, but it is still exciting to look at these preliminary patterns to gather some early conclusions.

Overall, I hope you found this study intriguing or fun to read about. While I used to see ballet as the intellectual side of dance and improv as the more instinctive half, this experiment challenged that assumption. Improv wasn’t really easier for my brain; it just engaged it differently, and that has made me appreciate contemporary a bit more than I used to. In the end, I think the best part wasn’t even the results, but the process of bringing together two disciplines that allowed me to explore new and fascinating perspectives.

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As a dancer who trains 20 hours a week, pointe shoes are an integral part of my life and the subject of many of my curiosities — including how I could potentially increase their longevity. There are many methods out there for pointe shoe care, like jet glue or drying inserts. But after a terrifying incident where I burned my hands with jet glue, leaving them stuck together for days, I decided that maybe I should explore other ideas.

Any dancer would know that long rehearsals and variation runs result in some very sweaty feet (gross!). One idea I had was seeing if different types of sweat could affect the longevity of pointe shoes. Could changing our diet, therefore altering our sweat composition, result in slower pointe shoe breakdown? pH — a measure of how acidic a solution is — is also a factor in changing sweat composition. Sweat pH can range anywhere from 4.0 to 6.8 and is affected by the influences of stress, diet, and intensity of exercise. What I wondered was if these fluctuations in pH are enough to actually affect the rate of breakdown of a pointe shoe.

Consequently, I discovered an intersection in my life where I could use science to answer my questions and potentially improve my dance experience.

In the lab

After researching, I hypothesized that increasing the intensity of exercise, typically associated with a higher sweat pH, would decrease the rate of pointe shoe breakdown. It seemed counterintuitive that more intensive exercise would slow down pointe shoe decomposition. However, based on the complicated mechanisms I explored, like the release of ammonia from sweat and the breakdown of hydrogen bonds within the polymer-based adhesives in a pointe shoe box, the conclusion became something that theoretically made sense.

Next, I put the hypothesis to the test. In the lab, I first began a painful process of cutting up my pointe shoes into precise 2 cm x 2 cm squares. My ballerina soul was definitely hurting as I destroyed my prized pointe shoes. But another thing being a busy dancer has taught me is that sometimes sacrifices have to be made — and this was no different.

I then created 4 solutions of varying pH values out of sodium citrate and citric acid: pH 4, 5, 6, & 7 to model the human sweat range. Next, I weighed and recorded the initial mass of each pointe shoe square, then submerged four squares in each pH solution. After 24 hours, I removed the squares from the solutions, dried them, then measured the final mass of each square.

Comparing how much mass was lost in the squares in each pH solution (pH 4, 5, 6, & 7), I was surprised to find that higher pH values (6 & 7) resulted in the greatest mass loss or breakdown of the pointe shoe squares — completely opposite to my initial hypothesis.

Frustrated that my experiment resulted in such a different outcome than I had predicted, I investigated the reasons that could have caused this. I found that while I initially only researched how chemical hydrolysis impacted pointe shoe breakdown, there were many other mechanisms that played a role. Processes like physical degradation and dissolution, which often occur much faster than chemical hydrolysis, created confounding variables that produced an opposite reaction.

Basically, I had what my history teacher would call “tunnel vision” and forgot to look at all the aspects that could have impacted the experiment.

Reflections

At first, I was disappointed that I came away without an expected conclusion or a new tip to share with everyone. Yet I think by experimenting for the first time with how science and dance could improve one another, I found insights that I wouldn’t have noticed if I had just stuck to a normal titration experiment.

Looking back, I think the best thing about the experiment wasn’t the result, but why I got it wrong. I was so sure I could predict the outcome if I controlled every step of the process and thoroughly understood the effect of chemical hydrolysis on pointe shoes — but I completely overlooked other physical reactions that played a role as well.

I realized it was similar to the way I approached dance. Ballet for me was always about honing in on the tiny details as a way to create the cleanest lines. While that precision was valuable, I would often get stuck in the minutiae yet still become frustrated when the big picture wasn’t perfect. There are so many other factors that contribute to the beauty of ballet, like strength or musicality that I forget about when I focus on perfecting every little detail.

I still think being detail-oriented is an important quality to have. However, what this experiment revealed to me was that perfecting or understanding all the small technicalities sometimes isn’t enough to create the result you’re hoping for.

In the end, this experiment diverged from sweat, science, and pointe shoes, but I don’t think it made it pointe less. I’ve come to terms with the fact that I won’t always be able to reach my desired goal with just attention to detail, but I’ve also discovered that it’s important to step back sometimes to avoid committing to a single explanation.

If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to follow along.

*And for those that are interested, here is a link to a full lab report of the experiment I performed: The effect of varying sweat acidity on pointe shoe adhesive integrity

And I agree — we don’t have enough time.

If I had just five extra hours a day, I could get so much more done. But the reality is, everyone has the same 24 hours. What I’ve started to realize is that, despite not always having enough time to finish everything on my to-do list, balance is actually less about creating more hours. Instead, it’s about working with the periods you already have and learning to navigate within those times.

Even though this post isn’t strictly “interdisciplinary,” I think balance is still an important starting point when considering how different parts of life can work together. I’m still figuring this out for myself, but learning to focus my attention has changed how I approach both dance and academics.

One place I first discovered this was in car rides.

Like many others, I used to scroll mindlessly on my phone. But once I stopped being passive and started thinking, “how can I use this time efficiently,” I was able to accomplish so much more. I started using car rides to finish up homework, warm up before class, do my bun, and eat dinner. It has saved me that extra 30 minutes spent at home eating at the table or getting ready in my bathroom. In a sense, the car has become a place for me to increase my efficiency at a time most would not think to utilize. Even though I’m not necessarily expending a lot of extra effort, it’s that mindfulness of where my focus is that has changed my approach to a daily car ride.

Another moment I started taking advantage of was brushing my teeth.

As much as I wish I could do a 30-minute workout every night, it just isn’t feasible with the amount of time I have. But what I’ve found is that the two minutes where you idly stare into space while brushing your teeth can actually create significant physical improvements with just a little bit of intention. Even though I can’t do an intense stretch routine nightly, I like doing simple calf raises or balancing in passé while brushing my teeth (it’s kind of fun!). Since then, my balance has progressed so much, and it was just from these small moments that added up more than I expected.

When I became more deliberate about activating my focus during typical idle periods, I was able to achieve more without having to put aside extra time. I’m certainly not a productivity expert, and I still find myself doomscrolling on TikTok more often than I should; Yet I’ve started to discover that even though we constantly feel like we’re running out of time, we can still create results by approaching time that already exists with more thought and focus. And it’s this shift in mindset that has supported me in juggling my various passions.

If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to follow along.

As I’ve observed the world around me, I’ve noticed that there’s often a divide between physical or creative disciplines and academic fields. Even in my school, I see people having to choose whether to focus on a sport and sacrifice studies or vice versa. A lot of people experience their interests as separate even though in reality, they often influence each other more than we realize.

Why the Interdisciplinary Dancer?

To start, I’m a dancer. Specifically, I’m a pre-professional ballerina, training over 20 hours a week. Yet I’m also a curious learner, finding joy in understanding the way things work and how they connect together, especially in science and research.

For a long time, these parts of me felt separate. At the studio, I was Ally the ballerina, and at school I was Ally the student. Surrounded by so many others who passionately pursued one path, I often wondered if I should do the same. Yet the idea of giving something up to pursue another never felt right, so it’s been a constant process of balancing high-level dance training with rigorous academics and moving between each role.

Then I began to wonder — what if I don’t have to pick one or the other? What if instead of letting society dictate what I should be, I create a space where all parts of me can work together? That question is what led me to create this blog.

The Interdisciplinary Dancer is a place where the best of both worlds meet, using dance to explore science, human behavior, and daily life to understand our world through a new lens. By finding these relationships, I’ve discovered how contrasting disciplines can actually inform and improve each other

What You’ll Find Here

This blog will provide unique dance + science experiments, reflections on finding balance, interviews with dancers, and more. I’ll explore ideas like how movement affects mental health and the financial realities of pursuing art to better understand how different disciplines influence the way we perform and think.

At its core, this reflects how learning, creativity, and movement are actually more connected than they’re often treated.

Even if you’re not a dancer, I hope these ideas inspire you to take on a new approach to your interests — not as separate parts, but as areas that can complement and strengthen one another. Most of all, I hope this blog invites you to start exploring the intersections in your own life and the meaning you can find within them.

If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to follow along.

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