Math instructor Karl Schaffer played a killer clown in the 1988 film “Killer Clowns from Outer Space.”

The movie was filmed locally and had numerous scenes filmed in Santa Cruz.

Schaffer graduated in 1978 from the University of Alabama in Birmingham with a bachelor’s degree in math.

He then moved to California to attend the University of Santa Cruz where he earned a master’s degree in math in 1983 and then his doctorate in 1986.

Schaffer feels that math and the arts are connected and share many interesting concepts.

“Both subjects require you to explore, create and try to understand patterns of the mind and body,” said Schaffer.  

In college, he studied dance and math and combined them to create elaborate dance performances showcasing mathematical theories.

“Both math and dance are creative, engaging subjects of the arts,” he said.

Schaffer’s taught math and dance for over thirty years, but he is also an author. His book “Math and Dance with Dr. Schaffer and Mr. Stern,” was published in 2001, and he has three more books in preparation.

During spring break, Schaffer taught 22 workshops at 6 locations in Puerto Rico. In June, they will perform in the World Science Festival in New York City.

When Schaffer is not teaching math, writing or appearing in films he is working on developing dance pieces for his dance company Dr. Schaffer and Mr. Stern Dance Ensemble.

He co-directed the dance group for 20 years with his colleague Erik Stern. They have been touring North America since 1989.

Recent tours have taken them to Hawaii, Phoenix, Maine and New York City.

The company has recently been named arts workshop leaders for the John F. Kennedy Center’s Partners in Education program. 

Last month, the group put on a show called “Imaginary Numbers” in Santa Cruz. The group is scheduled to perform in the World Science Festival this month in New York City.