Generating dance verbs and assisting computer choreography

ABSTRACT

As quoted in the philosophy of contemporary dance: <<Understanding the directions for a Free Dance performer stems mainly from the qualities and energy of the movement rather from spatial criteria>>, a lot of emphasis is put currently on generating computing dance movement by dynamic and energy, which is totally different from producing movement by kinematical based gestures in sequence. We argue that it is an ideal interactive media to connect computer and choreographer.In this paper, we present a set of dynamic models according to dance verbs: "to rebound", "to jump", "to flip", "to wave", etc, served by physically based particle modeling based on Newton's law. Among them, user has a high-level motion control to modify the quality of such dynamically generated movement, for example, light/strong, free/bound, sudden/sustained, etc. These dynamic models are hence well suited to produce spontaneous motion that looks natural and plausible. To sum up, we propose a methodology, focusing on the birth, the growth and the death of cause, which include mystic anticipation, inner propagation and virtual momentum exchange. Our methodology exhibits energetic succession and connects well the dance, physics and computer. It is convincingly a well-suited direction for computer-aided choreography.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.3 COMPUTER GRAPHICS
      I.3.5 Computational Geometry and Object Modeling
          Subjects: Physically based modeling

Additional Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.6 SIMULATION AND MODELING
      I.6.8 Types of Simulation
          Subjects: Animation

  J. Computer Applications
  J.5 ARTS AND HUMANITIES
      Subjects: Performing arts (e.g., dance, music)

General Terms:
Design, Performance

Keywords:
choreography and dance art, dance verbs, modular motion design, physically based particle modeling