Computer Graphic Reconstruction of Ninth-century Javanese Dance Forms This is a new project funded, initially for one year, by the Arts and Humanities Research Board. The project uses computer-animation techniques to create a time-sequenced recording of the movements seen in the reliefs of the ninth-century Prambanan temple complex in Central Java, decoded using the analytical system found in the Sanskrit text on dance and drama known as Natyashastra. Earlier research has shown that the dance technique described in this ancient text influenced the development of dance in Hindu-Buddhist Java.
The computerized re-creation will make the reconstruction accessible to a greater number of people, including practising dancers and choreographers interested in working with or knowing about obsolete movement forms and will focus on issues of interpretation in the context of reconstruction. The LifeForms modelling programme will be used, as well as an image transformation programme such as Morph, in order to interface photographic and computer-created images at key frames in the animation. Other software such as Director and LabanWriter will also be used. The project will allow an assessment of all these graphic and modelling programmes which will be adapted to suit the dance form. The output is intended to be a digital video and CD-Rom or one or the other.
For further information, contact Dr Alessandra Iyer by e-mail: a.iyer@surrey.ac.uk, or write to: Dance Studies, School of Performing Arts, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 5XH.