Temporal relationship between dancer’s body movements and music beats in classical ballet
Data files
Jan 02, 2025 version files 26.19 MB
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GRF_changement_1.csv
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GRF_changement_10.csv
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GRF_changement_2.csv
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GRF_changement_3.csv
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GRF_changement_5.csv
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GRF_changement_6.csv
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GRF_changement_7.csv
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GRF_changement_8.csv
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GRF_changement_9.csv
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GRF_jete_1.csv
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GRF_jete_10.csv
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GRF_jete_2.csv
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GRF_jete_3.csv
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GRF_jete_4.csv
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GRF_jete_5.csv
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GRF_jete_6.csv
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GRF_jete_7.csv
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GRF_jete_8.csv
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GRF_jete_9.csv
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GRF_passe_1.csv
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GRF_passe_10.csv
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GRF_passe_2.csv
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GRF_passe_3.csv
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GRF_passe_4.csv
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GRF_passe_5.csv
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GRF_passe_6.csv
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GRF_passe_7.csv
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GRF_passe_8.csv
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GRF_passe_9.csv
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GRF_tendu_1.csv
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GRF_tendu_10.csv
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GRF_tendu_2.csv
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GRF_tendu_3.csv
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GRF_tendu_4.csv
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GRF_tendu_5.csv
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GRF_tendu_6.csv
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GRF_tendu_7.csv
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GRF_tendu_8.csv
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GRF_tendu_9.csv
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Mocap_changement_1.csv
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Mocap_changement_10.csv
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Mocap_changement_2.csv
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Mocap_changement_3.csv
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Mocap_changement_5.csv
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Mocap_changement_6.csv
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Mocap_changement_7.csv
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Mocap_changement_8.csv
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Mocap_changement_9.csv
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Mocap_jete_1.csv
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Mocap_jete_10.csv
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Mocap_jete_2.csv
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Mocap_jete_3.csv
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Mocap_jete_4.csv
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Mocap_jete_5.csv
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Mocap_jete_6.csv
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Mocap_jete_7.csv
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Mocap_jete_8.csv
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Mocap_jete_9.csv
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Mocap_passe_1.csv
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Mocap_passe_10.csv
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Mocap_passe_2.csv
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Mocap_passe_3.csv
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Mocap_passe_4.csv
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Mocap_passe_5.csv
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Mocap_passe_6.csv
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Mocap_passe_7.csv
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Mocap_passe_8.csv
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Mocap_passe_9.csv
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Mocap_tendu_1.csv
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Mocap_tendu_10.csv
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Mocap_tendu_2.csv
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Mocap_tendu_3.csv
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Mocap_tendu_4.csv
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Mocap_tendu_5.csv
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Mocap_tendu_6.csv
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Mocap_tendu_7.csv
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Mocap_tendu_8.csv
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Mocap_tendu_9.csv
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MovRef_changement.csv
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MovRef_jete.csv
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MovRef_passe.csv
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MovRef_tendu.csv
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README.md
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Abstract
Musicality is one of the most essential aspects of dance performance: Dancers control their bodies to the music, and audiences appreciate dances beautifully harmonized with music. The present study explores this problem from the perspective of synchronization between music beats and body movements. Specifically, we investigated the temporal relationship between dancer’s body movements and metronome beats when a dancer performed four basic classical ballet movements (i.e., changement, passé, jeté, and tendu) to the metronome. We measured body movements of 10 ballet dancers using an optical motion capture system and force plates, and analyzed what movement reference points of dancer’s body motion (e.g., movement endpoints and ground reaction force peaks) occurred on or close to the beat and backbeat. Specific reference points coincided with the beat timing common to most dancers, but the different reference points were synchronized with the beat depending on the movements. These reference points were consistent with those reported in previous studies of the temporal relationship between music and body movements. Therefore, the present result suggests that humans have a set of common movement features that can serve as reference points for music-motion synchronization, and dancers select appropriate ones according to the target movements.
README: Temporal Relationship between Dancer’s Body Movements and Music Beats in Classical Ballet
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.dncjsxm8v
Summary of experiment
The purpose of this experiment is to analyze the temporal relationship between the dancer's body movement and musical beats when a dancer dance to music. To this end, we measured the body movement of classical ballet dancers using an optical motion capture system (Vicon Nexus) and a force plate (Kistler Instruments). The participant’s task was to perform the specified ballet movements in sync with the metronome’s rhythm. The target movements were changement, passé, jeté (outward), and tendu (outward).
In order to examine the temporal relation between body movement and metronome beats, we defined several “movement reference points” (i.e., distinctive perceptual events that can be used to synchronize body movements with the metronome beats) for each movement. We analyzed the time difference between these reference points and the beats for every cycle. The reference points were calculated from the movements of markers attached to the participants’ C7, ankles and toes.
Thus, the experimental data stored in this database are the trajectories of these markers and the GRF data, as well as the timing of the extracted reference points relative to the metronome beat.
Files and variables
Motion Capture data: (filename: Mocap_X_Y.csv, X: movement type, Y: participant ID)
Description: Motion capture data give the temporal sequence of the position and velocity of several marker's attached to the dancer's body. Data are presented in xyz coordinates, where x, y and z values represent the fore-aft, right-left and vertical components of the position (or velocity), respectively. The units of position and velocity are mm and mm/s, respectively.
Variables
- trial: Trial number (1-10)
- time: Relative time from the metronome beat (unit: ms)
- C7_z: z coordinate of the position of the marker at C7 (7th cervical vertebra)
- C7_vz: z coordinate of the velocity of the marker at C7 (7th cervical vertebra)
- RAnkle_x: x coordinate of the position of the marker on the right ankle
- RAnkle_vx: x coordinate of the velocity of the marker on the right ankle
- RAnkle_y: y coordinate of the position of the marker on the right ankle
- RAnkle_vy: y coordinate of the velocity of the marker on the right ankle
- RAnkle_z: z coordinate of the position of the marker on the right ankle
- RAnkle_vz: z coordinate of the velocity of the marker on the right ankle
- LAnkle_x: x coordinate of the position of the marker on the left ankle
- LAnkle_vx: x coordinate of the velocity of the marker on the left ankle
- LAnkle_y: y coordinate of the position of the marker on the left ankle
- LAnkle_vy: y coordinate of the velocity of the marker on the left ankle
- LAnkle_z: z coordinate of the position of the marker on the left ankle
- LAnkle_vz: z coordinate of the velocity of the marker on the left ankle
- RToe_x: x coordinate of the position of the marker on the right toe
- RToe_vx: x coordinate of the position of the marker on the right toe
- RToe_y: y coordinate of the position of the marker on the right toe
- RToe_vy: y coordinate of the position of the marker on the right toe
- RToe_z: z coordinate of the position of the marker on the right toe
- RToe_vz: z coordinate of the position of the marker on the right toe
- LToe_x: x coordinate of the position of the marker on the left toe
- LToe_vx: x coordinate of the position of the marker on the left toe
- LToe_y: y coordinate of the position of the marker on the left toe
- LToe_vy: y coordinate of the position of the marker on the left toe
- LToe_z: z coordinate of the position of the marker on the left toe
- LToe_vz: z coordinate of the position of the marker on the left toe
Ground Reaction Force Data (filename: GRF_X_Y.csv, X: movement type, Y: participant ID)
Description: Ground reaction force (GRF) data give the temporal sequence of the three dimensional force applied on to the force plate.
Variables
- trial: Trial number (1-10)
- time: Relative time from the metronome beat (unit: ms)
- GRF_x: x component of GRF (unit: N)
- GRF_y: y component of GRF (unit: N)
- GRF_z: z component of GRF (unit: N)
Movement Reference Point Data (filename: MovRef_X.csv, X: movement type)
Description:
Variables
- ID: participant ID (1-10).
- Trial: Trial Number (1-10). Note that some rows include median and IQR (interquartile range) of 10 trials.
- (Reference point): Relative timing of movement reference point from the metronome beat (unit: ms). Reference points are dependent on movement type. The list of reference point is shown below.
List of Movement Reference Points
Symbol | Meaning |
---|---|
Changement | |
GC | GRF onset |
GP1 | GRF's first peak |
BB | C7's bottom point |
GP2 | GRF's second peak |
GL | GRF offset |
BT | C7's top point |
Passé | |
BB | C7’s bottom point |
VBU | C7's peak upward velocity |
BR | Offset of C7's upward velocity |
VFU | Ankle's peak upward velocity |
FT | Ankle's highest point |
VFD | Ankle's peak downward velocity |
BF | Onset of C7's downward velocity |
VBD | C7's peak downward velocity |
Jeté | |
FLS | Onset of ankle’s velocity |
VR | Ankle's peak rightward velocity |
FR | Ankle's rightmost point |
VL | Ankle's peak leftward velocity |
FLE | Offset of ankle's velocity |
Tendu | |
FRS | Onset of toe’s velocity |
VL | Toe's peak leftward velocity |
FL | Toe's leftmost point |
VR | Toe's peak rightward velocity |
FRE | Offset of toe's velocity |
Code/software
No special software is required to view the data.
Access information
NA.
Methods
Appratus and signal processing
We measured the dancer’s body movement using an optical motion capture system (Vicon Nexus) at a frame rate of 250 Hz. Retroreflective markers were attached to 35 body sites using a plug-in full-body gait model. Ground reaction force (GRF) was measured using a force plate (Kistler Instruments) at a sampling rate of 1 KHz via external analog inputs to the Vicon system. Motion data were filtered with a 4th-order zero-phase low-pass filter (cutoff frequency: 50 Hz), and velocity and acceleration were calculated using numerical derivatives. GRF data were filtered with a 4th-order zero-phase low-pass filter (cutoff frequency: 400 Hz). Positional data are expressed in xyz coordinates, where the x-axis represents the front-back direction (positive towards the back), the y-axis represents the left-right direction (positive towards the right), and the z-axis represents the up-down direction (positive upwards).
Task and procedure
The participant’s task was to perform the specified ballet movements in sync with the metronome’s rhythm. The target movements were changement, passé, jeté (outward), and tendu (outward). The metronome's tempo was set to 60 beat per minute (bpm) for passé, jetés, and tendus, and 80 bpm for changements. Participants repeated the movements at least 16 times for changements and 24 times for the other movements. We discarded the first several cycles of motion data and used the subsequent 10 cycles of data for further analysis because the body movements were unstable at the beginning of a trial.
Data analysis
We defined several “movement reference points” (i.e., distinctive perceptual events that can be used to synchronize body movements with the metronome beats) for each movement. We analyzed the temporal relationship between these reference points and the beats for every cycle. The table below summarizes the reference points used in the following analysis.
These reference points were calculated from the movements of markers attached to the participants’ C7, ankles and toes. Thus, the experimental data stored in this database are the trajectories of these markers and the GRF data. In addition, we registered the timing of the extracted reference points for each movement.
Table: Movement Reference Points for Four Target Movements
Symbol |
Objective Criterion |
Physical Event |
|
Changement |
|
||
GC GP1 BB GP2 GL BT |
GRF onset GRF’s first peak C7’s bottom point GRF’s second peak GRF offset C7’s top point |
Feet contact the ground. Feet kick the ground to support the body. Body is at the bottom. Feet kick the ground to jump up. Feet leave the ground. Body is at the top. |
|
Passé |
|||
BB VBU BR VFU FT VFD BF VBD |
C7’s bottom point C7’s peak upward velocity Offset of C7’s upward velocity Ankle’s peak upward velocity. Ankle’s highest point Ankle’s peak downward velocity Onset of C7’s downward velocity C7’s peak downward velocity. |
Body is at the bottom. Body moves up the fastest. Body has ridden on tiptoe. Working toot goes up fastest. Working foot is at the top. Working foot goes down fastest. Body starts to come down from the tiptoe. Body moves down the fastest. |
|
Jeté |
|||
FLS VR FR VL FLE |
Onset of ankle’s velocity Ankle’s peak rightward velocity Ankle’s rightmost point Ankle’s peak leftward velocity Offset of ankle’s velocity |
Working foot starts to move rightward (outwards). Working foot moves rightward (outwards) fastest. Working foot reaches the rightmost position. Working foot moves leftward (inwards) fastest. Working foot returns to the starting position. |
|
Tendu |
|||
FRS VL FL VR FRE |
Onset of toe’s velocity Toe’s peak leftward velocity Toe’s leftmost point Toe’s peak rightward velocity Offset of toe’s velocity |
Working foot starts to move leftward (inwards). Working foot moves leftward fastest. Working foot is in the leftmost position. Working foot moves rightward fastest. Working foot returned to the rightmost position. |