The Mechanics of Dance: Using Parametric Equations as Inspiration for Dance Choreography

Lissajous figures are parametric equations that deconstruct into equations of simple harmonic motion. They were a source of inspiration by artists and mathematicians alike, well before the digital age, due to their esthetic forms and simple equations that could be easily deconstructed. Here for the first time in literature, we present Lissajous pattern analysis in the context of modern dance movement, thereby expanding the physical understanding of dance and redefining the creative choreographic process. Through the implementation of wearable sensors, specifically wireless accelerometers, we have collected movement data from professional dancers to serve as an additional lens to visualize dance in a novel way and to analyze dance mechanics. The resulting Lissajous figures from the movement phrases were used to both inform and inspire creativity in the choreographic process of the Artistic Director of the Bowen McCauley Dance Company to create a new piece of work entitled Lissajous.