Publications

Journal Articles

Hagendoorn, I.G. (2008), Can Dance Be Disgusting or Is It Forever Doomed to Aestheticism?, Culture Teatrali (forthcoming)

Hagendoorn, I.G. (2004), ‘Some speculative hypotheses about the nature and perception of dance and choreography’, Journal of Consciousness Studies 11, 3/4 pp.79-110.

The focus in this article is on how the neural mechanisms associated with perceptual anticipation in particular of human movement and prediction errors may account for the fact that watching even a short sequence of movements can be fascinating or exciting. Keywords: perceptual anticipation, mirror neurons, simulation theory, prediction, reward.

Hagendoorn, I.G. (2003), ‘Cognitive dance improvisation. How study of the motor system can inspire dance (and vice versa)’, Leonardo 36 (3), pp. 221-227.

Introduces a number of dance improvisation techniques that were inspired by research into the neural mechanisms of motor function.

Book Chapters

Hagendoorn, I.G. (2008), Dance, Choreography and the Brain, in: Melcher, D. and Bacci, F. [eds.], Art and the Senses. Oxford University Press (forthcoming).

Hagendoorn, I.G. (2005), Einige methodologische Bemerkungen zu einer künftigen Neurokritik des Tanzes, in: Fenger, J. and Birringer, J. Tanz im Kopf/Dance and Cognition Jahrbuch Tanzforschung 15.

Abstract: Recent findings from cognitive neuroscience can be fruitfully applied to dance and choreography. It offers novel insights into both the practice and the perception of dance. It also has a critical dimension in that it draws our attention to the neural mechanisms that bias our perception and judgement. The potential and the limits of such a neurocritique of dance are discussed in the larger framework of the scientific study of dance.

Hagendoorn, I.G. (2005), Dance Perception and the Brain, in: McKechnie, S. & Grove, R. [eds.], Thinking in Four Dimensions, Melbourne University Publishing.

Argues that choreography and art in general can either be finetuned to properties of the perceptual system or by contrast be geared towards destabilizing the perceptual system. Also suggests a possible evolutionary ground as to why across cultures certain dance forms are popular, e.g. virtuoso solos and synchronized group scenes.

Hagendoorn, I.G. (2002), ‘Einige Hypothesen über das Wesen und die Praxis des Tanzes’, in Tanz Theorie Text, Klein, G. en Zipprich, Ch. (red.) Hamburg, LIT Verlag, pp. 429-444.(In German).

General Articles

Hagendoorn, I.G. (2005), Kippenvel. BLIND! 4 (in Dutch).

Brief introduction to the scientific study of art. Discusses research into musical chills, the fact that some music makes your skin crawl or gives you "goose bumps" (kippenvel in Dutch) and some other topics.

Hagendoorn, I.G. (2004), Towards a neurocritique of dance, BalletTanz Yearbook.

Argues that neuroaesthetics or cognitive neuroscience has a critical dimension by revealing how neural mechanisms shape the way we perceive, feel and judge. Also argues that implicit expectations bias perception and judgment of a dance performance. Please note that the article was written for a special issue on William Forsythe and that therefore most references are to his work.

Hagendoorn, I.G. (2003), ‘The dancing brain’, Cerebrum 5 (2), pp. 19-34.

A popular introduction how cognitive neuroscience may offer a new perspective into the aesthetic experience of dance and choreography in the form of a voyage of discovery.

Book Reviews

Hagendoorn, I.G. (2004), ‘De wereld als wiskundig netwerk’. De Academische Boekengids (in Dutch). Introduction to the mathematics of networks by way of a review of: Albert-Laszlo Barabasi, Linked. The new science of networks; Mark Buchanan, Nexus. Small worlds and the groundbreaking science of networks; Steven Strogatz, Sync. The emerging science of spontaneous order and Duncan Watts, Six Degrees. The science of a connected age.

Hagendoorn, I.G. (2003), ‘Tussen kunst en hersenen’, Neuropraxis 7 (2), pp. 59-63. Review of: M. Livingstone, Vision and Art. The Biology of Seeing, New York, 2002 and S. Zeki, Inner Vision. An Exploration of Art and the Brain, Oxford 1999.

Hagendoorn, I.G. (2001), ‘Building Bridges’, Trends in Cognitive Sciences 5 (12), p. 548-549. Review of: K. Pfenninger and V. Shubik [eds.], The Origins of Creativity, Oxford, 2001.

Conference Proceedings

Hagendoorn, I.G. (2002), ‘Emergent patterns in dance improvisation and choreography’, Proceedings of the International Conference on Complex Systems.

Conference Presentations

Hagendoorn, I.G., Dance, Language and the Brain. 2nd International Congress on Art, Brain and Languages. 11-12 September 2008, Casa da Musica, Porto, Portugal.

Hagendoorn, I.G., From Movement to Thought. 18th Conference of the International Association of Empirical Aesthetics. 13 - 16 September 2004, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal.

Dance and the Brain. An international symposium organized by Ivar Hagendoorn and hosted by the Ballett Frankfurt with financial support by the Dana Foundation. January 2004. Speakers: Marc Jeannerod, Julie Grèzes, Andrea Heberlein, Tania Singer, Petr Janata. Introduction and closing remarks Ivar Hagendoorn.

Hagendoorn, I.G., Self organisation on stage. The mathematics of dance and choreography as a complex system. Annual Meeting of the Royal Dutch Mathematical Society, May 2003.

Hagendoorn, I.G., Emergent patterns in dance improvisation and choreography, The International Conference on Complex Systems, Nashua New Hampshire, June 2002.

Hagendoorn, I.G., Between dance, mathematics and the brain, Subtle Technologies, Toronto, May 2002.

Hagendoorn, I.G., Einige Hypothesen über das Wesen und die Praxis des Tanzes, Wissen Schaffen über Tanz, Berlin, November 2001.