Authors:

 Cordeiro, Analívia.

Title:

 NOTA-ANNA: A VISUALIZATION OF THE MOVEMENTS OF THE HUMAN BODY

Keywords:

 computer-dance, video-dance, movement notation, Laban Method, non-verbal communication
click here to download  the full paper

Abstract:

 Nota-Anna is a human movement notation. For centuries, it has been a challenge, and even today there is no system of registering peoples movement that captures its richness or transmits its poetry. As sound has systems to record and create music, constituting its memory; human movement should have its own notation.

An efficient system, should be easy to read, involving, charged with emotion. Nota-Anna has these characteristics visualizing the actual movement in a manner analogous to human perception: its trajectory2; inducing the user expressiveness, considering the significant movement occurs in subtleties and intentional gestures.

This notation is based in analysis of existing notations, researchs in computer-dance/computer-animation; and practical experience in dancing/teaching/choreographing. The solutions formulated through "mental gymnastics", as occurs with many data technicians, are not significative; appropriate solutions demand practical understanding and clear objectives.

This software intends to open the imaginative capacity of the user, child or adult, demanding for its use the sympathy, intuition with the notation visualization in reality and the luck that this system "finds its way into their hands". The objective of turning real people into animated drawings, does not exist.

Nota-Anna, "plays" and preserves the memory of the complexity, richness and ephemerality of movement, presenting as advantages:

. simplicity of its appearance and organization according with state of the art technology allied with low costs,

. input/tridimensionalization processes using one camera allowing to transpose old films/videos, basic to create a memory and a history of movement,

. JAVA language running on any computer,

. instant reading of the movement, without any training, permiting an intuitive and/or systematic understanding of movement language syntax, facilitationg the integration of varied body movement studies,

. transmitts the poetry of movement : "given to the eyes is the soul's intention" (Aristotle).

Machines are not human, man is not a mechanical instrument. It's a victory in this search the respect paid to the biological organization of man in his integration with technology.

"Incorporating computer vision technics and artificial inteligence, Nota-Anna, can be powerful for movement analysis and creation. And, maybe extensively used for those who cultivate this art" (Luiz Velho, "Instituto de Matemática Pura e Aplicada
Cordeiro, Analívia. analivia@dialdata.com.br Dancer, choreographer and architect. Analívia studied dance under Laban Method in Brazil and modern dance at Alvin Nikolais, Merce Cunningham, Gus Solomons, Viola Farber Dance Studios in New York. Graduated in Architecture at University of São Paulo, Brazil and master degree in Multimedia at State University of Campinas, Brazil.One of the computer dance world pioneers and brazilian videoart pioneers (1973). She created multimedia performances and videos. Recently, researchs on a software of movement notation and published a book/video:"Nota-Anna: an electronic notation of human movement based on the Laban Method" (1998).Her videos were exhibited in several events like: "International Festival of Edinburgh", "XII Bienal de São Paulo", "LatinAmerican Films and Video Tapes" no "Media Study of State University of New York", "Arte de Sistemas in LatinAmerica" no "International Cultureel Centrum" (Anthuepeen) "Latin America 74" at "Espace Cardin" (Paris) and "Galleria Civica D'Arte Moderna" (Ferrara),"International Conference Computer & Humanities/2" na " University of Southern California", "Art of Space Era" at "Von Braun Civic Center of Huntsville Museum of Art", "The Bat-Sheva Seminar on Interaction of Art and Science", Jerusalém, "LatinAmerica 74" no "Institute of Contemporary Arts" (London), "WGBH - TV Public Channel" , "20th American Dance Guild Conference", "Brasil Séc.XX", "Arte e Tecnologia" at Instituto Cultural Itaú; in several countries like:USA, Belgium, France, Italy, England, Switzerland, Israel, Argentine, Tchecoslováquia and Iugoslávia. gave courses of movement analysis in fashion and psychology colleges, and dance classes for children at her studio.