Physics and the Art of Dance Understanding Movement

by Laws, Kenneth; Swope, Martha; Russell, Francia

• ISBN13: 9780195144826
• ISBN10: 0195144821
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-03-14
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Written by a physicist with professional dance training, Physics and the Art of Dance explains how dancers can achieve better, safer performances through an understanding of physics in motion. Using simple, non-technical terms, Kenneth Laws combines his knowledge of both physics and dance todescribe how the laws of gravity, momentum, and energy affect dancing bodies. The book explores the natural laws that govern the subtleties of balance, the techniques of leaps and pirouettes, and the impressive lifts and turns executed by ballet partners. Finally, Laws offers insight into twocurrent discussions in the dance world--the effect of body size on ballet technique, and the relationship between science and the art of dance. Beautiful, original stop-action photographs by Martha Swope, along with clear diagrams, illustrate the concepts described in the text. Plus, an intriguing "puzzler" at the beginning of each chapter provides an engaging entree into the topics presented. For those who want a more advancedunderstanding of the physics, extensive appendices are provided. This new book combines the best features of Laws's widely acclaimed The Physics of Dance and Physics, Dance, and the Pas de Deux by Laws and Cynthia Harvey. Its expert application of the basic principles of physics to the art of dance will be an invaluable resource for dancers and dance instructorsand will open a new level of appreciation for lovers of the form. It will also appeal to physicists who seek to include the arts in their scientific pursuits.

Author Biography

Kenneth Laws is Professor Emeritus of Physics at Dickinson College. He has been active in the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and has instructed Dickinson students in ballet throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He is the author of two books about physics and dance and is the leading expert on the subject.

Table of Contents

Foreword	v
Francia Russell
Introduction	2	(16)
The Role of Physical Analysis	4	(3)
The Physics of Dance	7	(3)
The Value of Analysis to Dancers	10	(2)
The Value of Analysis to Observers	12	(2)
Analysis for Teachers and Health Professionals	14	(2)
Communication: Words, Images, and Photographs	16	(2)
Balance	18	(16)
Condition for Static Balance	20	(4)
Regaining Balance	24	(5)
Balance while Rotating	29	(2)
A Final Look	31	(3)
Motions without Turns	34	(28)
Acceleration from Rest	36	(4)
Motion in a Curved Path	40	(2)
Stopping Horizontal Motion	42	(1)
Vertical Jumps	43	(4)
Connections between Horizontal and Vertical Motions	47	(1)
The Grand Jete ``Floating'' Illusion	47	(2)
The Effect of Turnout on Traveling Jumps	49	(2)
Landings from Jumps	51	(5)
Dance Floors: Elasticity and Friction	56	(3)
A Final Leap	59	(3)
Pirouettes	62	(24)
Torque and Rotational Momentum in a Pirouette	66	(3)
Controlling Rotational Velocity	69	(2)
Characteristics of Pirouettes	71	(1)
The Arabesque Turn	72	(3)
The ``Illusion Turn,''	75	(1)
The Grande Piroutte	76	(2)
Fouette Turns	78	(3)
Repeated Pirouettes	81	(1)
A Final Turn	82	(4)
Turns in the Air	86	(16)
The Demi-fouette	88	(3)
The Tour Jete (Grand Jete on Tournant)	91	(3)
The Saut de Basque	94	(3)
The Turning Assemble	97	(1)
The Tour en l'Air	98	(2)
A Final Leap	100	(2)
The Pas de Deux	102	(22)
The History and Appeal of the Pas de Deux	104	(6)
Who's Responsible for What?	110	(2)
Physical Interactions between Partners	112	(1)
Balance	113	(5)
Accelerating Motions	118	(1)
Final Poses	119	(2)
To the Next Step	121	(3)
The Mechanics of Partnered Turns	124	(18)
Starting a Supported Pirouette	126	(6)
Balance during a Supported Pirouette	132	(2)
Stopping Rotation	134	(2)
Other Supported Turns	136	(3)
A Final Turn	139	(3)
The Mechanics of Lifts	142	(22)
The Straight Lift	145	(6)
Other Front Lifts	151	(4)
Overhead Lifts	155	(4)
Other Lifts	159	(3)
Catches	162	(1)
A Final Thrust	162	(2)
The Effects of Body Size	164	(14)
Height of a Vertical Jump	166	(4)
Entrechats	170	(2)
Horizontal Accelerations and Body Size	172	(1)
Body Size and Pirouettes	172	(1)
Adagio Movements	173	(1)
Body Size and Partnered Dance	174	(1)
Effects of Body Shape	175	(1)
A Final Comparison	175	(3)
A Step Into the Future	178	(7)
Appendix A: Linear Mechanics and Newton's Laws	185	(7)
Appendix B: Rotational Mechanics	192	(5)
Appendix C: Anatomical Data for Dancers	197	(2)
Appendix D: Rotational Inertia for Some Body Configurations	199	(5)
Appendix E: Acceleration Away from Balance	204	(3)
Appendix F: Off-Balance Pirouettes	207	(3)
Appendix G: Arabesque Turn Analysis	210	(5)
Appendix H: Quantitative Analysis of the Grande Pirouette	215	(4)
Appendix I: Quantitative Analysis of the Fouette Turn	219	(2)
Appendix J: Quantitative Analysis of the Supported Fouette Turn	221	(3)
Appendix K: Lean, Don't Slip	224	(5)
Glossary	229	(5)
Index	234