Yoga, Dance And World Peace
Millions of people believe that strengthening the connection between mind and body through activities like yoga, dance or tai chi can lead to inner peace.
SUNY Cortland philosopher Andrew Fitz-Gibbon wonders if it can lead to world peace as well.
Fitz-Gibbon, professor and chair of the College’s Philosophy Department, is part of a SUNY research team working to find out whether dance and other body-based arts can help families from different backgrounds overcome group prejudice, tension and conflict.
The team, made up of humanities faculty from Cortland and four other SUNY schools, was awarded a $20,000 grant for the project July 28. It was part of $160,000 in awards by the SUNY Arts and Humanities Network of Excellenceannounced by SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher.
The funding, intended to foster research collaboration between SUNY institutions, will help support nine projects involving 14 different campuses in areas ranging from disability services to international diplomacy.
“In academic disciplines spanning dance, history, architecture, anthropology and many more, SUNY campuses across the state are creating new hands-on learning experiences for students and faculty in the arts and humanities,” Zimpher said. “We are proud to support these innovative projects.”
SUNY Cortland — along with SUNY’s Purchase, Geneseo, Buffalo State College and Brockport campuses — will pilot using creative dance and body movement opportunities in divided New York state communities to build a grassroots approach to conflict resolution, diplomacy and peace education.
Fitz-Gibbon, a tai chi instructor and director of SUNY Cortland’s Center for Ethics, Peace and Social Justice, has long held that physical movement can play a role in humanity’s peaceful co-existence.
See full story on cortland.edu