How fractal is dancing?


Tatlıer M., Suvak R.

CHAOS SOLITONS & FRACTALS, vol.36, no.4, pp.1019-1027, 2008 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 36 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2008
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.chaos.2006.08.044
  • Journal Name: CHAOS SOLITONS & FRACTALS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1019-1027
  • Istanbul Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Fractal analysis was applied to the patterns formed on the dance floor by footwork while performing various dance figures. Several Latin-American dances were taken into consideration and the box-counting method was used to estimate the fractal dimensions of these patterns. Rumba was determined to produce the most fractal pattern with a fractal dimension of about 1.36 in the mesh size range used while Merengue exhibited the least fractal one with a dimension of about 1.16. The magnitude of the fractal dimension seemed to be mainly dependent on the simplicity/complexity of the dance figures as well as the characteristic rhythm of the music dictating the basic footwork and figures performed. Well-known fractal shapes, such as the Koch curve might be used to provide insights for generating new dance figures. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.