Introduction to Augmented Reality Dance
Imagine having the ability to digitally project the world’s biggest dancers into your property, and observe them performing virtually, in three dimensions, atop a front room table. Such is the potential of a brand new class of augmented reality (AR) technologies just like the "Magic Leap," a headset that permits users to superimpose digital media atop their seen reality, innovatively combining recorded dance with real space.
The Collaboration Between MAP Design Lab and Pilobolus
Director and founding father of the MAP Design Lab Melissa Painter recently collaborated with Pilobolus to provide a bonkers AR choreography called "YouDanceWeDance." This project, which began its life on the Magic Leap, allows viewers to make use of their smartphones to watch (from any angle, and anywhere) Pilobolus dancers moving based on selectable emotional themes. Painter’s dance background is rooted in creative movement practices, having studied Graham technique, improvisation, and Alexander techniques. She describes her movement practice as yoga, and seems like she’s still hearing the "stand like a tree" part from her childhood dance classes.
The Impact of Augmented Reality on Choreography
For Painter, augmented and virtual reality have honed her eye, and given her a possibility to spend additional time with phrases within the context of motion capture. It’s just like how a dancer might live with movement of their body. It provides a possibility to revisit live movements spatially, as an alternative of through a flat YouTube video and even on a proscenium stage. Movement, to her, is probably the most beautiful, direct, and instinctual type of human communication. She believes motion capture gets on the essence of who we’re in a way that’s elegant, accessible, and impactful.
The Future of Dance in a Virtual World
If COVID keeps theaters closed for the foreseeable future, might AR maintain a way of dancerly liveness in performance? Painter thinks that spatial computing, three-dimensional capture, and immersive presentations can support the work of creators who work with bodies. We can explore potential latest audiences and performance opportunities straight away. Once upon a time, there was less of a definite line between dancers and watchers. Painter still believes that might be the case, and that it’s good for non-experts to have as many probabilities to be inspired by experts as to maneuver their very own bodies.
Exploring Virtual Choreography at Home
Dance is some of the loved, watched, and shared types of social media content that there may be. So, share dance! Painter is at all times up for more making and doing and moving, whether it’s captured or not. There are emergent types of dimensional capture and there are also off-the-shelf ways to show flat videos spatial. They’re not perfect, but they’re recovering and higher. People can explore virtual choreography at home through the use of smartphones to capture and share their very own dance movements, and through the use of augmented reality technology to project digital dancers into their living space.
Other Innovators within the Field
There is a world of immersive makers on the market. The media is ripe for it, and as creative technologists, we all know that it’s dancers and choreographers who’re the collaborators we’d like as we create experiences and technologies of the long run that honor embodiment. Some who come to mind are Heidi Bosivert, Michelle Ellsworth, Christine Marie, and Gilles Jobin. These innovators are pushing the boundaries of what is feasible in virtual dance and choreography.
Preparing for a Future in Virtual Dance
Having inventive improvisational and collaborative skills is a superb start. That’s a part of why Pilobolus translates so beautifully to virtual space. Motion capture might be utilized in as some ways as there are movers. There’s no prescribed form. We have had plenty of situations when persons are doing complex partnerings, but someone’s data for his or her head finally ends up attached to another person’s knee. You learn to work through! Dancers can prepare for this type of work in the long run by developing their improvisational and collaborative skills, and by being open to latest technologies and ways of working.
Conclusion
The way forward for dance is virtual, and it’s exciting. With the assistance of augmented reality technology, we will project digital dancers into our living space, and observe them performing in three dimensions. The collaboration between MAP Design Lab and Pilobolus is just the start of what is feasible on this latest virtual choreographic horizon. As we move forward, we will expect to see more innovators pushing the boundaries of what is feasible in virtual dance and choreography. Whether you are a dancer, a choreographer, or simply someone who loves to maneuver, there’s never been a more exciting time to be an element of the dance world.
