December 18, 2007

Heading Toward Integrated Real and Virtual World Dance Experiences

We'll continue to see improvements in Second Life and other virtual worlds that will offer new opportunities for animated dance forms. But the ultimate developments will revolve around creating 3D environments that replicate the physical world that we already inhabit. Then, we will be able to experience dance performances that take place live and online. And the online versions will have the same look and feel as the real-world space but we will be able to fly through it and interact with dancers in new ways.

Dance Videos from Second Life

Here's a performance video of the Second Life Ballet in Second Life. If you haven't visited SL Ballet's website for awhile, you'll probably want to. The site is redesigned and there is new content about their virtual ballets.

And here's some social dancing in Second Life. If you jump to about half-way through, you can see the movements up-close to get an idea about the quality of the animation:

Experiencing Third Rail Projects on 2D Maps with Video

While we can't yet meld the physical and virtual worlds, we can begin to move in that direction. Third Rail Projects (they also blog on Great Dance) just returned from performing "Strangers on Tong Chong Street," a site-specific work they did in Hong Kong. Since there is video of this recent performance and another site-specific video from a Lincoln Center performance, I thought I'd embed their videos into 2D and 3D maps.

In the following map, you can click on the blue marker to see a pop-up window with embedded YouTube video of "Lacuna," a work choreographed by Tom Pearson for the Reflecting Pool at Lincoln Center. If this map is a little cumbersome, you can visit the customized map on Google:

And here's a map that shows the location of Third Rail Projects performance as part of the Urban Dance Festival on Tong Chong Street in Hong Kong and you can watch an embedded video as well - here's the Google map link:

Experience Third Rail Projects on Google Earth

Google Earth is the 3D version of Google maps. Users can create customized maps; add pictures, videos and markers; and even create customized 3D buildings. Here's a video that shows what it's like to navigate Google Earth:

So to keep things very simple, I went back to the Google Map I created for Lincoln Center and clicked on the link that reads "View in Google Earth". You'll see this link in purple at the top of the following screen shot:

If you have Google Earth installed, you will now be able to view the embedded site-specific videos of Third Rail Projects on this 3D mapping software.

Here's a screen shot of Lincoln Center on Google Earth. You can click this image for a full-screen view. On the panel to the left of the map, you'll see information about Third Rail Projects, if you click "Urban Dance Festival," you'll be flown from New York to Hong Kong. And if you click this link again, you'll see a pop-up window with the dance performance video:

The Future of Integrated Physical and Virtual Worlds

So I think that Second Life and other virtual world applications are a stepping stone to an integrated real-world and virtual world experience. Why not see a virtual world performance of Second Life taking place in a virtual Lincoln Center? Why shouldn't your avatars join Third Rail Projects on Tong Chong Street in real-time and interact with the dancers? And take this video of Project Bandaloop. Wouldn't it be nice to join them up-close as they propel off tall buildings? We don't have to take the risks, but we can just enjoy the view and the excitement.

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