Rockefeller Fellowship

The Rockefeller Fellowship is a collaboration between CBA and the Laboratory of Neurogenetics of Language at Rockefeller University to investigate the genetic origin and evolutionary purpose of dance across different species with an eye to developing new clinical therapies. Rockefeller Fellows are appointed by Rockefeller University and awarded a semester-long residency with full access to CBA and NYU’s academic and artistic resources.

 

About the Program

The Rockefeller Fellows joined The Center for Ballet and the Arts for the fall semester of 2021. During their time at The Center, they gathered evidence on the neurological links between dance and vocal learning; they examined how species develop the capacity to coordinate rhythmic sound with movement; they theorized the purpose of dance in human evolution; and they designed experiments and methodologies, with a range of clinical and research applications, to clarify how the neuroscience of language and dance intersect. Dr. Sadye Paez and Dr. Constantina Theofanopoulou will continue their work at CBA as Visiting Scholars.

 

2021 Rockefeller Fellows

Dr. Sadye Paez

Senior Research Associate in the Neurogenetics of Language Laboratory (Erich D. Jarvis) at The Rockefeller University

Dr. Constantina Theofanopoulou

Associate Research Professor at Hunter College, City University of New York, a Visiting Associate Professor at Rockefeller University