Breakdown Harmonica: Extending Laban Notation with Video Game Development Tools

Abstract

Breakdown Harmonica1 is a research project focusing on analysing, understanding, and communicating an historical dance piece (Jane Dudley's 1937 Harmonica Breakdown) to dance scholars and practitioners, as well as researchers from movement and computing disciplines. The project explored the use of animation and video games development tools to extend the traditional Labanotation score in order to make the score more readable for those without extensive training in Laban Notation and Laban Movement Analysis. This paper articulates some of the challenges faced in movement notation, and in the use of tools developed for video games and animation.