Motion Bank by William Forsythe

A research project of The Forsythe Company focused on the creation of on-line digital dance scores with guest choreographers

Standard scoring methods exist in dance, but they are not as universally known and applied as with music. Several years ago, choreographer William Forsythe in collaboration with the Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design at The Ohio State University, developed a new approach for the creation of scores using computer-aided design. Dance scores made with this approach can be read and studied by anyone without having to learn a special writing or notation system. A prototype using this approach was developed for Forsythe’s ensemble piece “One Flat Thing, reproduced” (see http://synchronousobjects.osu.edu).























Illustrating Alignments © Synchronous Object, for One Flat Thing, reproduced. The Ohio State University and The Forsythe Company
 

The approach utilizes computer graphics, digital video and animation technology. The choreography is first recorded on film from various perspectives and analyzed with the aid of computer software. In an additional step, the choreographer inserts directions and defines pauses, transitions and impulses to complete the digital score, which is then made available on the Internet. 

In the Motion Bank research project this approach will be further refined and evaluated with the aim that in the future other choreographers can use it for the creation of their own digital scores. In order to demonstrate how the approach can function for a wide range of artistic styles, Motion Bank, with funding from the Federal Cultural Foundation, will work with renowned guest choreographers: Deborah Hay, Jonathan Burrows/ Matteo Fargion, and Bebe Miller (the first choreographer for the TWO project). As with the prototype, these choreographers will collaborate closely with digital designers from partner institutions to realise and publish their finished scores on-line through Motion Bank.

If the process proves successful in this trial phase, it will be offered along with user-friendly recording and annotation software to all choreographers so that they can make digital scores of their own works. In return, these scores should be made freely available on-line through Motion Bank. The long-term objective is to build a collection of digital dance scores that exposes the complex construction of choreographies, enables them to be studied for a wide range of purposes including reconstruction and preserves them for future generations.

The steps of Motion Bank research and development from choreography to digital dance score will be documented and presented to dance professionals, students, educators, researchers and audiences in a series of workshops, on-line reports and public events leading up to the final launch of the three finished scores. Specific pedagogical research undertaken with partner institutions will focus on the development of related teaching applications of the digital scores.

The Federal Cultural Foundation has allocated 1.4 million euros to fund Motion Bank: a project of The Forsythe Company from 2010 to 2013.
For more information: www.theforsythecompany.com > motion bank

 



Cueing System © Synchronous Object, for One Flat Thing, reproduced. The Ohio State University and The Forsythe Company

Geographic Applications © Synchronous Object, for One Flat Thing, reproduced. The Ohio State University and The Forsythe Company