Beginnings and endings—dance phrase edges in an interactive dance study

Abstract

This article describes a study exploring the expressive and creative potential of dance phrase onsets and endings in interactive dance, using an artistic research approach. After describing the context and background of interactive dance and relevant perceptual issues, the technical setup is presented, both in terms of the performance area, sensors and other hardware, and software. The main part of the article is concerned with the specific movement-sound mappings and their relation to the dancer’s movement choices in four different sections in the performance that the project resulted in, entitled Beginnings and Endings - Study I. Subsequently, the process and performance are evaluated, specifically focusing on the performer’s perspective. The most interesting points from the evaluation are then discussed with reference to the presented mappings, related movement choices, and relevant research literature. Findings include that the dancer experienced an increased awareness of beginnings and endings in different sections of the performance, that the affordances of different mappings were explored in different ways and to different degrees, and that some of this could be ascribed to a dynamic between liberation and restriction.