Three-Dimensional Symmetries in Dance and Other Movement Arts
Karl Schaffer

Proceedings of Bridges 2019: Mathematics, Art, Music, Architecture, Education, Culture
Pages 247–254
Regular Papers

Abstract

Choreographers characteristically use both symmetry and asymmetry as part of the palette with which they compose movement sequences, and dance floor patterns and formations often display a variety of planar symmetries. Three-dimensional symmetries also appear, especially in acrobatic compositions, but also in movement arts that overlap with athletic events, such as formation skydiving. We will examine some of these three-dimensional symmetries and the ways that transitions may be designed to move from one such symmetric formation to another, looking in detail at (a) symmetries in one body, (b) three-dimensional symmetries between dancers, and (c) three-dimensional symmetry switching.

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