Abstract

Kathakali is an opulent classical dance-drama originated nearly 500 years ago in India. Complex gestures, poses, and immaculate eye and facial expressions come together to tell stories. Recent advances in performance capture enable the motion as well as the emotion of the actor to be digitally acquired. This research project utilizes a sixteen-camera motion-capture system to capture Kathakali at the School of Art, Design, and Media, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. The acquired data has been processed and applied to the human skeletal system. The motion data, in the numerical form, can immediately admit mathematicians, scientists, and animators into the complex and diverse kinetics of classical dance to lend a deeper understanding and meaningful abstractions of kinetic art. The project has opened possibilities of developing digital tools for classical dance pedagogy. An archival of classical dance, pivoting on 3D motion capture with video and audio recording along with other pertinent data, can also be undertaken. This dialogue between classical art and modern technology serves as a platform for a meaningful collaboration between ancient cultural heritage and rapidly advancing technology.