Daniel Strutt • THE FUTURE OF DANCE

A digital avatar for the motion-captured performance of Mavin Khoo (created by Studio Aszyk)

Framed by the impact of the pandemic on the arts, and funded by the AHRC as part of their ‘COVID-19 research and innovation’ programme, our practice-led research project Goldsmiths Mocap Streamer is showcased below. This project is offered as an intervention into the future of dance, addressing practical and theoretical questions raised by a series of collaborative, interdisciplinary workshops with choreographers, dancers and creative technologists.

Goldsmiths Mocap Streamer is intended as an accessible, open-source tool for the simple and easy streaming of motion capture data. Any number of users can both receive and stream data in real time. This permits any number of performers from any place in the world to dance together in virtual spaces.

Starting from research into the potential applications of a new generation of wireless and studio-less motion capture (Inertial Motion systems) in the creation, rehearsal, teaching and performance of choreographic dance work, we moved towards a more refined research question. We wanted to explore how to find forms of meaningful emotional and affective connection in a ‘distributed’ medium for dance that is decisively and qualitatively different to live theatrical performance.

The use of motion capture systems in these remote, telematic modes of choreographic communication can outline new perspectives for the dancer and the choreographer, ‘revealing hidden stories in the movement data that can provoke artistic, aesthetic and conceptual questions about what dance movement creation is and could be’ (Vincs and Barbour 2014, 64).

We believe that many future-oriented concepts for new digital platforms for dance, audiences and new types of interactive performance exist in ways that can neatly merge with rapidly evolving motion capture, immersive and mixed-reality technologies. We can look to a future of dance content being shared on various AR, VR and XR platforms in ever more immersive and participatory modes of engagement. Through interdisciplinary collaborative projects such as ours, dance performers and choreographers can start to understand ways of sharing and developing new work, thus shaping a digital future for traditional performance arts.

The project was supported by the AHRC, within their ‘Ideas that address Covid19’ fund, and by Goldsmiths’ ‘Future of Media’ research theme. ⁠

Dancers: Tia May Hockey, Nicky Henshall, and Alexander Whitley, with artistic advisor Mavin Khoo

Principal Investigator: Dr Daniel Strutt

Creative Direction and Virtual Environments: Neal Coghlan (Studio Aszyk) and Clemence Debaig.

Software development: Oliver Winks at Paper Plane Software

Research Assistant: Friendred Peng

Visuals crafted in Unity, with motion capture by the Perception Neuron V2 by Noitom Technology Ltd., with technical support from our project partner Target3D.

For more information contact daniel.strutt@gold.ac.uk

Daniel Strutt is a Lecturer in the department of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies at Goldsmiths, University of London, where he teaches film theory and analysis, alongside social, cultural and economic theory. His book, The Digital Image and Reality: Affect, Metaphysics and Post-Cinema was published in 2019 with Amsterdam University Press. Having worked on research projects with Creativeworks London, CREATe and the AHRC Creative Economy Programme, he also engages in innovative performance production work with contemporary digital audio-visual artists.