Plans are underway at DanceTechCom for a very complicated device which will make life more simple. Inspired by the Studio thread "Is Limon A Technique?" this carefully crafted and finely honed machine both defines dance technique, and identifies the technique used by a dancer.<P>During a recent visit to the DanceTechCom industrial compound a test model was revealed. After a brief speech by a tall man the prototype was wheeled out. Gleaming chrome and low-key, yet space-age styling finish out the visible details, while beneath the "hood" thousands of gelcomputers gently blip. After the applause died down, an operator and a young woman in sweatpants and a t-shirt approached the gleaming, glowing device. The operator in white attached movement sensors (KT2000) developed by Kick Technologies Ltd. to seventeen locations on the dancer's body.<P>From tiny speakers came music - sweet and lilting, then building to a violent crescendo. The ponytailed dancer spun, leaped, posed, paused, and played - while the sensors tracked every muscular twitch until the music ended and lights on the sensors faded. <P>While the dancer got a drink of water and took a seat, the operator was busy at the controls of the new machine. A few moments later, she turned and handed a small piece of paper to the tall man who'd spoken earlier. As he put on his little glasses a hush fell over the small crowd.<P>"Well. Let's see what the DanceTech2000 has to say," he flattened out the little slip of paper.<P>"Looks like we've got a real mutt here!" the tall man chuckled. The dancer smiled and laughed.<P>"20% ballet - of that 80% Russian training, and 20% French." The dancer raised an eyebrow. <P>The man continued, "30% Graham, 25% Ayengar yoga, 10% childhood ice-skating lessons, and 15% Hawaiian hula." The dancer raised her other eyebrow, but when the tall man turned to her and raised HIS eyebrow, she stood and smiled. <P>Taking a bow, she turned and started to leave, signalling the end of the big demonstration. Beaming assistants and attendants began hustling us towards the reception. As I was leaving, I looked over my shoulder and caught a glimpse of the dancer looking at the machine. She glanced up at me, smiled, and shouted "Amazing, isn't it?"<P>My boyfriend's starving. I guess that's all.

There are of course a variety of uses for his device. Criticaldance has seen a copy of a report about some fascinating practical trials of the machine. A group of heritage ballet fans have used a specially programmed version to carry out a series of tests to decide whether a dance piece is ballet or not. <P>The plan was to install the device in Opera Houses around the world and when a piece fails the test, a claxon rings and the message - This is not ballet. This is not ballet.... - is repeated loudly until a minimum of 10 seconds of pointe work or or at least 4 entrechats have been performed.<P>The test report showed that all went well in the early stages. For instance, Ballet C de B's roller skaters and wall climbers only lasted 5 seconds before the claxon sounded. However the later stages proved more problematic. Ashton's 'Dante Sonata' failed and MacMillan's 'Rite of Spring' actually caused the machine to overheat badly. <P>As a result, the trials have been abandoned. So you are unlikely to read any other articles about this particular application of the device anywhere else. <BR><p>[This message has been edited by Stuart Sweeney (edited September 10, 2000).]