Abstract
This paper describes an experimental computer program that applies the techniques of artificial intelligence to the creation of dance. Specifically, a user expresses a set of dance rules (in a special English-like “rule language”) which describes some of the dynamic aspects of a dance. These rules are applied nondeterministically by a “rule driver” program. The rules themselves are similar to those that form the knowledge base of expert systems. The rule driver embodies a heuristic algorithm of the type found in many artificial intelligence programs.
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.References
Beaman, J. “Computer Choreography”.Anthology of Impulse. Ed. M. Van Tuyl. New York: Dance Horizons, 1969, pp. 62–64.
Bente, G. “Facilities for the Graphical Computer Simulation of Head and Body Movements”.Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers, 21, 4 (1989), 455–62.
Bradford, J. H. and P. Côté-Laurence. “Animate Tokens, Their Design and Application”.Leonardo, 24, 5 (1991), 557–62.
Calvert, T. W. “Toward a Language of Movement”.Computers and the Humanities, 20, 1 (1986), 35–43.
Calvert, T. W., C. Lee, G. Ridsdale, S. Hewitt and V. Tso. “The Interactive Composition of Scores for Dance”.Dance Notation Journal, 4, 2 (1986), 35–40.
Dransch, D. O. K., J. C. Beatty and R. S. Ryman. “Choreo-Scribe: A Graphics Editor to Describe Body Position and Movement Using Benesh Movement Notation”.Computer Science Technical. Report CS-86-48. Waterloo, Ontario: University of Waterloo, 1986.
Duda, R. J. and R. Reboh. “AI and Decision Making: The Prospector Experience”. InArtificial Intelligence Applications for Business. Ed. W. Reitman. Norwood, N.J.: Ablex, 1984, pp. 111–47.
Firebaugh, M. W.Artificial Intelligence: A Knowledge-Based Approach. Boston: Boyd and Fraser, 1988, pp. 307–31.
Greeno, J. G. and J. L. Moore. “Situativity and Symbols: Response to Vera and Simon”.Cognitive Science, 17 (1993), 49–59.
Herbison-Evans, D. “Dance, Video, Notation and Computers”.Leonardo, 21, 1 (1988), 45–50.
Herbison-Evans, D. and G. Politis. “Computer Choreology Project at the University of Sydney”.Leonardo, 21, 1 (1988), 34–38.
Jackson, P.Introduction to Expert Systems. 2nd Ed. New York: Addison-Wesley, 1990.
Lansdown, J. “Computer Choreography and Video”. InProceedings of the Third International Conference on Computing in the Humanities. Waterloo, Ontario, 1977, pp. 241–52.
Lindsay, R., B. G. Buchanan, E. A. Feigenbaum and R. Lerderberg.DENDRAL. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1980.
Politis, G. “Computers and Dance: A Bibliography”.Leonardo, 23, 1 (1990), 87–90.
Reichardt, J. “Computer-Programmed Choreography”. InCybernetic Serendipity. Ed. J. Reichardt. New York: Studio International, 1968.
Rolston, D. W.Principles of Artificial Intelligence and Expert Systems Development. Toronto: McGraw-Hill, 1988.
Schiphorst, T., T. Calvert, C. Lee, C. Welman and S. Gaudet. “Tools for Interaction with the Creative Process of Composition”. InProceedings of CHI '90: The ACM Conference on Computer-Human Interaction. 1990, pp. 167–74.
Schiphorst, T.A Case Study of Merce Cunningham's Use of the Lifeforms Computer Choreographic System in the Making of Trackers. M.A. Thesis. Simon Fraser University, 1993.
Shortliffe, E. H.Computer-Based Medical Consultations: MYCIN. New York: Elsevier, 1976.
Stadler, C. M. “Computers and Choreography”. InProceedings of the 2nd IEEE Symposium on Small Computers in the Arts. Philadelphia, October 1982, 107–109.
Vera, A. H. and H. A. Simon. “Situated Action: A Symbolic Interpretation”.Cognitive Science, 17 (1993), 7–48.
Zeltzer, D. “Knowledge-Based Animation”. InProceedings of the ACM SIGGRAPH/SIGART Interdisciplinary Workshop on Motion: Representation and Perception. Toronto, 1983, pp. 318–23.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
James H. Bradford is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Brock University. He is an active researcher in the area of Human/Computer Interaction with particular interests in the analysis of speech and the representation of dance.
Paulette Côté-Laurence is an Associate Professor of Physical Education at Brock University. Her research interests are in the areas of motor control and the acquisition of dance skills, psychology of rhythm, and dance technology.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bradford, J.H., Côté-Laurence, P. An application of artificial intelligence to the choreography of dance. Comput Hum 29, 233–240 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01830393
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01830393