Seminar : Lifeforms and Isadora
Artist : Armando Menicacci
Country : France

Lifeforms

For the past 12 years, Merce Cunningham has used a computer programme called Lifeforms to create his choreography. Lifeforms can be considered as the most important software programme created to date for the dance discipline. The programme can be used for achieving different results:

1_ choreographic composition
It allows one to compose a choreography through animations that involve a potentially infinite number of dancers within a modular space and with a time line where the relationship between the choreography and the music can be viewed and treated at the same time. A choreographic composition can then be directly transferred to Internet or be recorded on a cd-rom or a video cassette.

2_ choreographic notation
Lifeforms allows one notate a dancer's movement with precision. The score can be read at the same time and at the same place for every interpretor. A dancer can have a score that he can use as a reference for himself and in relation to other dancers.

3_ movement analysis
Through the process of graphic movement composition, Lifeforms allows one to observe movement in a different way. The 3D animation of « characters » allows one to analyse any movement with precision. This makes the composition process easier while offering the opportunity of also observing and studying movement during the workshop.

It is not necessary for participants to have had prior dance or technical training.

Isadora

Today, dancers and choreographers have the opportunity of modifying and treating video, other types of images, text, lighting effects and music for stage production through the use of motion capture, programmes and interfaces that process movement, the spoken word and music in real time.

Mark Coniglio, composer, programmer, and artistic co-director of the New York based Troika Ranch Dance Company created Isadora , a software that allows one to treat video images in real time. It is easy to manipulate and offers great creative potential.

During this workshop, participants will be introduced to this software application and through experimenting its possibilities, will be invited to reflect on the expressive use of imagery in general and of video in particular.

Lead by Armando Menicacci