Style-based Robotic Motion in Contemporary Dance Performance

This chapter reviews a framework for generating robotic motion and describes its application in a performance at Georgia Institute of Technology. In particular, the movement model stems from the view that cannons of basic warm-up exercises in formalized movement genres, such as classical ballet, seed more complex phrases. This model employs a separation of basic movement ordering and execution. Basic movements are sequenced, and their individual execution modulated via a notion of quality from dance theory. The sequencing framework is then employed in performance both on a humanoid robot and real dancers. Results from a human study, questionnaires given to audience members after the show, are also presented. The generation framework also lends itself to movement interpretation and that extension will be briefly presented as well.