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A Method for Computerizing the Choreographic Process and Its Place in the Modern Dance World

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2013

Abstract

In the world of modern dance, people are constantly looking for new and different ways to explore the choreographic process and how dance can be related to other academic disciplines. Recently there have been great strides made to connect modern dance and the world of mathematics. “Synchronous objects” is a study that was done at Ohio State University where a choreographed dance was converted into easily manipulated data, thus bringing significant advances to the math–dance connection. However, this study was a one-way transaction, from dance to data. It leaves mathematicians everywhere wondering how to transform their knowledge of formulas into an expression of the body. To satisfy the urges of these dance-minded mathematicians, we have developed two methods of creating choreography from a simple fractal formula. The first method uses fractal landscapes as a coordinate map of the stage and Labanotation as the translation key (the reverse of the synchronous objects project), and the second uses the basic Labanotation figures as the “objects” with which fractals are generated. These methods, stemming completely from a computer algorithm, will allow people not well versed in dance to create new and exciting pieces of choreography by making simple decisions about the fractal equation.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Annabel Clarance 2012 

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