But Virginia Tanner Children's Dance Theatre Program at the University of Utah does just that with "Scientia" (Latin for "knowledge," and pronounced skee-en-tia), playing Friday and Saturday at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City.
The multimedia program combines choreography with video and audio to help describe scientific principles and theories, including how DNA replicates, the movement of tectonic plates and Earth's molten core. The show features 268 children performing 12 original dances that they helped choreograph with their dance teachers.
"Scientia" also has an element of science fiction, according to Mary Ann Lee, artistic director for Tanner Dance. An imaginary time machine helps the main character, The Professor, played by Gene Pack, explain science to Asha, played by Hannah Bebbeington, Olivia Vessel and Phoebe Romney.
"The message of the show is that we are all potential scientists," said Lee, who choreographed "Newton's Principia," a piece about atoms.
"We really had to release and express energy," said 12-year-old Maren Cline, who was excited to use new dance moves she learned.
"It felt like I was just dancing and [the choreography] just came to me instead of memorizing it," said Emily Howe, 12.
Virginia Tanner launched the dance program in 1943 not only to develop great dancers but also to help children become imaginative, creative, well-rounded people.
In addition to Children's Dance Theater, Tanner Dance offers teacher workshops, lectures and demonstrations, and weekly classes at local elementary schools.
"It's the whole process of education and learning that excites the imagination," Lee said.
Students weren't the only ones learning about science in creating "Scientia." All the dance teachers read A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson to gain a better understanding of the subject matter they wanted to express through dance.
"It was inspiring and challenging because we needed to be authentic and true to the facts, but [the dances] also needed to be artistic," said Joni Wilson, who choreographed "Dangerous Beauty" about the eco-system of rain forests.
If nothing else, the whole experience helped kids improve their vocabulary.
When asked what the audience should look for in the rain-forest dance, third-grader Isabelle Roberts said: "Look for epiphytes. They cling to the trees and then feed the trees, becoming mulch."
If you go
Children's Dance Theatre will perform "Scientia" Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $12.50 to $22.50 with a 50 percent discount for children under 12, available by calling 801-355-ARTS or online at www.arttix.org.
