Translating Idiosyncratic Movement Qualities

Summary

The project “Translating Qualities” explores how idiosyncratic movement qualities of one individual choreographer (Muriel Romero) can be abstracted and translated through a generative approach. For this purpose, choreographer Muriel was interviewed about her approach of employing movement qualities as building blocks early on in the choreographic creation process. Based on this, a number of qualities were selected and analysed in more detail through motion capture. This analysis informed the design of behaviours for abstract artificial articulated morphologies that are simulated using the Bullet Physics rigid body dynamics engine. Finally, the movement of the simulated morphologies was translated back onto real physics bodies in the form of moving lights and lasers. This process of abstraction and translation formed the basis for the creation of a new dance piece entitled “Embodied Machine”.

Movement Qualities

Muriel Performing the Movement Quality Fluidity

Muriel Performing the Movement Quality Particles

Muriel Performing the Movement Quality Thrusting

Movement Trajectory of Muriel’s Right Arm Performing the Movement Quality Fluidity

Movement Trajectory of Muriel’s Right Arm Performing the Movement Quality Particles

https://vimeo.com/726536466

Movement Trajectory of Muriel’s Right Arm Performing the Movement Quality Thrusting

Abstract Morphologies

Simulated Articulated Morphology – Arm with 6 Joints and fixed base

Simulated Articulated Morphology – Arm with 17 Joints and fixed base

Behaviours for Abstract Morphologies

Arm with 6 Joints Performing Fluidity

Arm with 17 Joints Performing Fluidity

Arm with 6 Joints Performing Particles

Arm with 17 Joints Performing Particles

Arm with 6 Joints Performing Thrusting

Arm with 17 Joints Performing Thrusting

Movement Qualities mapped to moving lights

Simulated Arms Controlling Moving Lights – Excerpt from Dance Piece “Embodied Machine”

Simulated Arms Controlling Moving Lights – Excerpt from Dance Piece “Embodied Machine”

Simulated Arms Controlling Laser Light – Excerpt from Dance Piece “Embodied Machine”

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