A new cross-disciplinary collaboration on grounds is set to break new artistic and research ground by challenging common academic stereotypes. “Quantitative Arts at U.Va.: Electronic Identity and Embodied Technology Atelier” brings together the worlds of dance and engineering, and is spearheaded by Head and Artistic Director of U.Va.’s Dance Program Kim Brooks Mata and Assitant Professor in Systems & Information Engineering Amy LaViers. The pair received a Jefferson Trust Grant for the project, which revolves around a newly designed course this fall that will culminate in a performance that speaks to the concepts of identity and embodiment and will integrate elements of technology, engineered systems and multimedia. “This project allows Amy LaViers and I to deepen our own areas of research through collaborative experiences and teaching, while exposing our students to the potential interplay of our two disciplines,” Brooks Mata said. “Often, Dance is primarily viewed as an ‘artsy’ endeavor, while Engineering is considered non-creative and ‘sciency.’ We are looking to expose our students to the creativity that exists in Systems Engineering and the critical and analytical thinking that is a normal part of dance artistry and scholarship.”