‘I gave that cue.’ Integrating dance studies, praxeology, and computational perspectives to model change in the case study of William Forsythe’s Duo

Choreographer William Forsythe calls the work Duo a ‘project’—reflecting piece’s long history of vicissitudes from 1996 to present. We attempt visualize continuity and change over several iterations Duo, spanning period 20 years. Our methods involved graphical statistical approaches performance video annotation, considering seven videos acquired Forsythe’s private archive. Collaboration with dancers was critical develop this choreographic knowledge. The duet chosen focus on annotation partnering, structure, interpretation; case study furthermore enabled review Synchronous Objects for One Flat Thing, reproduced (Forsythe et al. 2009) built upon prior research entrainment in (Waterhouse, Watts, Bläsing 2014). Studying choreography longitudinally, close regard performers’ testimonies digital traces, problem required innovative methods. For article, we how used within project. outline our particular interdisciplinary approach, merging perspectives dance studies, praxeology creative coding. present language concepts chosen, technical tools annotating, procedures analysis, conclusions research. Thereby novel visualizations process.