Capturing of contemporary dance for preservation and presentation of choreographies in online scores

Abstract

In this paper, we present a generic and affordable approach for an automatized and markerless capturing of movements in dance, which was developed in the Motion Bank / The Forsythe Company project (www.motionbank.org). Thereby within Motion Bank we are considering the complete digitalization workflow starting with the setup of the camera array and ending with a web-based presentation of "Online Scores" visualizing different elements of choreography. Within our project, we have used our technology in two modern dance projects, one "Large Motion Space Performance" covering a large stage in solos and trios and one "Restricted Motion Space Performance" that is suited to be captured with range cameras. The project is realized in close cooperation with different choreographers and dance companies of modern ballet and with multi-media artists forming the visual representations of dance

The Body Beyond Movement: (Missed) Opportunities to Engage with Contemporary Dance in HCI

“…The first category presented, 'technical framework', encompasses papers presenting low-level technical contributions for developers. The category yields 9 results (21%) and includes papers that contribute to new computational techniques, for example a visualisation system that exposes movement qualities for dance through rendering effects [1]; frameworks, [1], [4], [15], [26], [38], [48], [57], [63], [67] C1.2 Research through practice 8 (19.0%) [28], [29], [32], [35], [36], [53], [54], [56] C1.3 Theory and methodology 7 (16.7%) [2], [13], [16], [27], [37], [47], [55] C1.4 Support tools for dance 11 (26.2%) [10], [11], [12], [14], [17], [19], [22], [31], [60], [61], [64] C1.5 Artistic work and process 5 (11.9%) [9], [40], [41], [49], [65] C1.6 Dance archive / documentation 1 (2.4%)…”

“…In category 1.5, we find five papers (12%) that focus on specific 'artistic work and processes' at the intersection of contemporary dance and various kinds of technologies, e.g. zero-gravity environments [9], interactive system design for the stage [40], or automatized and markerless motion capture for the creation of online scores [41]. This category is distinguishable from 1.2 as there is a stronger emphasis on the artistic side, and authors often present specific pieces.…”

Digitization and Visualization of Folk Dances in Cultural Heritage: A Review

“…In [9,51], a motion capture approach using three Kinect sensors is used for dance motion capture for a game application for dance learning and performance evaluation. Dance digitization is done in two ways for different types of performances in [52]. Both ways are marker-less motion capture without disturbing the dancer's moves using additional equipment.…”

Kapturing Kung Fu: Future Proofing the Hong Kong Martial Arts Living Archive

“…Motion Capture technologies are playing an increasingly natural role in ICH preservation. Historically it is used widely in humanoid robotics research (Zhao, Huang et al 2004, Huang, Peng et al 2005, Ou, Hu et al 2015, sports medicine (Charbonnier, Kolo et al 2011, Klonova, Klonovs et al 2011, Schwartz, Hazee et al 2012, film-making (Gadassik 2010, Whissel 2010, video games (Pronost, Multon et al 2008, Deng, Leung et al 2011) and now contemporary dance and performancemaking (Birringer 2002, deLahunta 2002, Delbridge 2014, Dils 2002, Ebenreuter 2005, Kahn, Keil et al 2012, Kahn, Keil et al 2013, Barber 2015. Given the capacity to enable the capture of movement using an 'omniscient frame' generated by the capacity of a Motion Capture system's camera array to 'see within a volume, to capture not just the height and width of the 2D frame, but to capture depth (via movement) as well' (Delbridge 2015).…”