Expanding the Design Space of Computer Vision-based Interactive Systems for Group Dance Practice

TL;DR

This paper explores new interactive system designs to support group dance learning, expanding beyond single-user gesture recognition to facilitate communication and feedback among multiple dancers, based on extensive user studies.

Contribution

It introduces a set of novel interactive concepts and design directions for group dance practice systems, validated through empirical user-centered research.

Findings

Enhanced understanding of group dance learning practices

Development of interactive concepts for group feedback and communication

Validation of design directions through prototypes

Abstract

Group dance, a sub-genre characterized by intricate motions made by a cohort of performers in tight synchronization, has a longstanding and culturally significant history and, in modern forms such as cheerleading, a broad base of current adherents. However, despite its popularity, learning group dance routines remains challenging. Based on the prior success of interactive systems to support individual dance learning, this paper argues that group dance settings are fertile ground for augmentation by interactive aids. To better understand these design opportunities, this paper presents a sequence of user-centered studies of and with amateur cheerleading troupes, spanning from the formative (interviews, observations) through the generative (an ideation workshop) to concept validation (technology probes and speed dating). The outcomes are a nuanced understanding of the lived practice of group dance learning, a set of interactive concepts to support those practices, and design directions derived from validating the proposed concepts. Through this empirical work, we expand the design space of interactive dance practice systems from the established context of single-user practice (primarily focused on gesture recognition) to a multi-user, group-based scenario focused on feedback and communication.