Laban Movement Analysis towards Behavior Patterns

International audienceThis work presents a study about the use of Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) as a robust tool to describe human basic behavior patterns, to be applied in human-machine interaction. LMA is a language used to describe and annotate dancing movements and is divided in components [1]: Body, Space, Shape and Effort. Despite its general framework is widely used in physical and mental therapy [2], it has found little application in the engineering domain. Rett J. [3] proposed to implement LMA using Bayesian Networks. However LMA component models have not yet been fully implemented. A study on how to approach behavior using LMA is presented. Behavior is a complex feature and movement chain, but we believe that most basic behavior primitives can be discretized in simple features. Correctly identifying Laban parameters and the movements the authors feel that good patterns can be found within a specific set of basic behavior semantics

Developing and Sustaining an Inclusive Dance Program: Strategic Tools and Methods

In the 1980s, mixed ability or physically integrated dance companies, such as AXIS and Dancing Wheels, began with professional performance goals, aimed at producing high-quality choreographic work involving individuals with and without disabilities. Those companies are pioneers in the integrated dance field and serve as beneficial models of development. Generally speaking, dancers with disabilities began learning movement expertise through choreographic explorations initially (McGrath 2012). There were no studios or training venues preparing young dancers or adults for the potential of professional or preprofessional dance. The realization that there were no consistent, well-developed training programs caused these companies to create opportunities for training. These companies now hold workshop intensives and community classes to attempt to fill the gap. Still, more consistent training opportunities in different locations are needed, especially for young students (Aujla and Redding 2014). Efforts at codification of training techniques for individuals with disabilities are also relatively new and in need of further development to address varying disabilities. One notable effort can be seen in the Dancing Wheels manual, Physically Integrated Dance Training: The Dancing Wheels Comprehensive Guide for Teachers, Choreographers and Students of Mixed Abilities, published in 2012. Another may be seen in Alito Alessi’s Dance Ability International (2008), the first teacher training certification program for integrated and inclusive dance, focusing on contact improvisation methods. Additionally, in the area of wheelchair ballroom dance sport, codification of expectations has occurred for wheelchair dancers in a competition frame (International Paralympic Committee wheelchair dance sport 2014). These are beneficial efforts in the field, and we need more of these efforts, especially for youth, to make dance accessible to diverse populations and enable professional preparation. Recognizing the lack of training options in our area for any type of integrated dance that was not simply recreational, the company founder, also a dancer with a disability, founded the training program discussed in this article

Designing For Movement: Evaluating Computational Models using LMA Effort Qualities

International audienceWhile single-accelerometers are a common consumer embedded sensors, their use in representing movement data as an intelligent resource remains scarce. Accelerometers have been used in movement recognition systems, but rarely to assess expressive qualities of movement. We present a prototype of wearable system for the real-time detection and classification of movement quality using acceleration data. The system applies Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) to recognize Laban Effort qualities from acceleration input using a Machine Learning software that generates classifications in real time. Existing LMA-recognition systems rely on motion capture data and video data, and can only be deployed in controlled settings. Our single- accelerometer system is portable and can be used under a wide range of environmental conditions. We evaluate the performance of the system, present two applications using the system in the digital arts and discuss future directions