eleni vasilonikolou
Embodying Systems: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Choreography
This artistic research unfolds at the intersection of choreography and systems theory, exploring how movement and thought structures interlace to shape our understanding of the world. Rooted in my Master’s studies in Performance Practices at ArtEZ University of the Arts (2023–2025), the project set out to discover and reveal the bridges between choreographic processes and systems thinking, uncovering their deeper interconnections through a lens of lightness, absurdity, and humour.
The outcome of this inquiry culminated in SYSTEM JOY, a performance that invites audiences into a playful yet profound exploration of relational dynamics, patterns, and emerging complexities. Alongside the performance, a written thesis documents the research process in its entirety, offering insights into how choreography can become a tool to sense, disrupt, and reimagine the systems that shape our lives. You can read the whole thesis here.
Part of the process was also methodically sharing the knowledge and tools I acquired with others, allowing for different interpretations and applications of the process. The tools utilized in this study were shared for both pedagogical and ethical reasons. Firmly rooted in the relational ontology of systems theory, this approach acknowledges that knowledge is co-constructed and emerges from interactions. By making the research available to others in workshops, I attempted to decentralize authorship and incorporate multiple forms of knowledge. This raises a deeper issue: all systems, including choreographic structures, coexist in being sensed and acted upon together. The ethical commitment was about contesting the enclosure of knowledge and affirming spaces in which we could experiment together and share uncertainties and ambiguities. By bringing the tools into the light, I was passing them forward and carrying a responsibility to make it possible for others not just to understand, but to challenge, reorganize, and transform the system from their unique perspectives, contexts, and desires.