Sunday, October 30, 2011

Classification of Dances and Animations

Classification of Dances and Animations 111020

Dance Details contains a basic set of information on the thousands of dances and animations in SL (Second lIfe).
  • Name - Spelled correctly with the loop time added using the "|" symbol
  • Type - Dance or Animation
  • Speed - An arbitrary judgment of the dance's speed as Slow, Medium or Fast
  • Time - The loop time of the dance or animation
  • Rating - The rating of the dance by DANCE QUEENS members on a scale of 1 to 10 (best)
  • Source - The creator of the dance or anim
This information is contained in a database that Riddle and I have been working on. This data reflects about two months work in entering the data.

If you have ever looked for just the right dance or animation for a sequence or a show, you know this can take a while. Additional classification of the dances and anims would increase the usefulness in finding dances and animations in the database. This post describes where I am going on classifying dances and animations. I welcome your comments.

A review of the classification of dances in SL shows that there is not consistency in how different makers and dancers choose to classify dances. Standards of classification are needed so we can enter the data and retrieve it effectively.

To get us started on this I am proposing a classification system for dances and animations in SL (at least the dancing not the sex part of it, hahaha). It consists of four levels of information:

  1. TYPE
  2. CATEGORY
  3. STYLE
  4. CHARACTERISTIC
Let me show you how this would work.

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ANIMATION TYPES


There are four types of animations of interest to dancing: individual dances, couples dances, animated poses and static poses. These I call animation TYPES. I have made the names of these four short, because as you will see, space will be needed for all the information. So the abbreviated versions of TYPES are:
  • Dance
  • Couples
  • Anim
  • Pose
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DANCE CATEGORIES, STYLES, CHARACTERISTICS

Although I know about some types of dances, I know nothing about others. I think most if not all DANCE QUEENS members are the same. So, to subdivide the dances further I found a very helpful dance classification Wiki article with references. This article provides a basis for defining the next level of dance classification into CATEGORIES, such as hiphop, latin, performance, etc. Each of these CATEGORIES is further divided into what I am calling a STYLE, for example in the House CATEGORY there are STYLES: Footwork, Hustle, Jacking, etc. The really helpful part of the Wiki classification is there are references which describe the dances and may limit the disagreements we are sure to have when we classify dances.

I modified the list from the Wiki for several reasons. First, I wanted to simplify it a bit. Second, as thorough as it is, there are missing dances, for example, pole dances, the Twist, chair dances and more. I did find a
list of dances on another Wiki and expanded the list based on this list. Third, the list has duplicate STYLE entries and I put a dance STYLE in only one CATEGORY. Finally, SL is not RL. We have some unique dances here such as mermaid and air dances.So, here is my first proposal for classifying SL dances into CATEGORIES and STYLES:


TYPE       CATEGORY          STYLE    VIDEO      
Dance Ballroom Foxtrot http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6p46E1Zlss
Quickstep http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6jfGQRYv2U
Viennese Waltz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcaYFLeKwJA
Waltz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve82-LCzXFI
Celebrity Beyonce
Jamiroquai
John Travolta
Michael Jackson
Rolling Stones
Freestyle Boogie
Jump Up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nopUVVqzBNM
Raving
HipHop Bounce http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZudGvUCj8k
Breaking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZQlNfptMCk
Crip Walk (C-Walk) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2TSy0Z5qTE
Electric boogaloo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lAkslZGxhY
Floating http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7MDdYj9YAc
Jerkin' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbUwqzg6hw8
Jookin' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivj75xIR_9o
Krumping http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vTo2p3F_v8
Litefeet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxjjICvm73o
Locking/Robot http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey3iNQ1zADg
Popping http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_9x_TSZeGQ
Snap dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEC1Mm8bh44
Street Jazz http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz5WG6wGKP4
Strobing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0piLuqerwjE
Turfing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laUtVx87leA
Historical Baroque dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9b6ldKKqu0
English country dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ35ZkLkJJ4
Masque
Medieval dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8HI_amy0yQ
Regency dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y1Ak-AJ30M&feature=fvsr
Renaissance dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a826x9x1oUs
Vintage dance
House Footwork http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVmMs1AqhoU
Grinding http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s21sg0goqM
Hustle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3aQ1In8vxQ
Jacking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHwEkI6TUaQ&feature=fvst
Lofting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USjjJRyzNwk
Tecktonik http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbzYXWLVU3o
Vogue http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quvm8AmJaHs
Waacking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErUVOuJLl2Q
Jazz-AA Bernie dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR6qznPMLZA
Black Bottom http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5UnEB23YCI
Boogie-woogie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktny1osC_ME
Cabbage patch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHW69vx_pPo
Cakewalk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22cDEo-4eUs
Calypso Zumba http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKDDEa2ou6s
Chicago stepping http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj71KbE6ekg&ob=av3e
Moonwalk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpnPiuKxm6U
Salsaton dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaJ6Pi8GhSI
Soca dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1SRN4tj7EQ
Tap dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lGkXWzb3ok
Texas Tommy
Latin Bachata http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyaxbEcvu9k&feature=related
Bolero http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjDpshDbRJk
Capoeira http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NijTFMa9xk
Carioca http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIM8LqUp3Hw
Cha-Cha http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0tcVGckBLQ
Cumbia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijJKJ8FoQgw
Lambada http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXo0yjWAgKM
Limbo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXpPphBR5-Y
Macarena http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t5WEBnDnp4
Mambo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQUDEQQa_Fg&feature=relmfu
Meneaito http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wANwIUxifyg
Merengue http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on4V1KN_Iuw
Reggaeton http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdBjQHd7BH8
Rumba http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imrpmkdrmuM
Salsa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPtPag7U_dY
Samba (Brazilian dance) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh6ZGe3Pcs4
Tango http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2mVJDQyyWg
Tango http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDJM1gGW0zM
Liturgical  Liturgical dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3sXqc1H72I
Novelty Fad Batusi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaQcSqty17g
Bomba http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL_9tFKUI94
Bump
Skate Dancing
Carlton http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FETOEeSyPps
Chicken Dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UV3kRV46Zs
Conga-Bunny http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42m7ao-vST8
Crank
Cupid Shuffle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GxidrT5GyU
Disco http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfl0-kpxZyg
Electric Slide http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NZwnm6B90M
Line dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xZdMfZD5l0
Monkey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvq9TGAt1OU
Peanut Butter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf4iQ3Ni8vI
Pony http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_W4TMkG6fI
Roger Rabbit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfroCiVc0hU
Running Man http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLJwAgyUFNc
Time Warp http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT7riT9k8v0
Twist http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WIvZu4dPQQ
YMCA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS9OO0S5w2k
Performance Acrobatic dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qlv9GfgxlTs
Ballet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_5WCZ-XvG4
Belly http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-BQXhFAZhQ
Bollywood dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waEXlvat5GA
Burlesque-Can-Can http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBhjVat5VD4
Chair/Lap http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfXtmnxhtTY
Cheerleader http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP2Baew5aTw
Concert dance
Contemporary dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou18gelCCss
Flamenco http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xhits_HAeKM
Flying Men dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olP0hG7nb-4
Greek Classical
Modern dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTL-FYx261o
Pole http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6KnUW9N3Zo
Rockettes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbYwhHkldc4
Punk Air guitar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ8E-AVgcUw
Hardcore http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfWumokkspQ
Headbanging http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBM5MHApKA0
Moshing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVz8fxOuVM0
Pogo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hVNxaPfQsk
Rave/Trance Candy Walk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOjQGiHP77g
Jumpstyle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcIF7-VFrs8
Kandi Stomping http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrUjzKNMvlU
Melbourne Shuffle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zjQTBukG0w
Rebolation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNKf2r-vN60
X-Outing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syJnFDAuNrE
SL Unique Air
Mermaid
Swing Balboa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcdcO87Q6mk
Blues dance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNGaNOtOGz8
Carolina Shag http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmSAWAddDKo
Charleston http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSFzLfgKKLI
Collegiate Shag http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htNoZW68I40
Deneme
East Coast Swing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL3u-d8STmA
Hand Jive http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj4UVp9aKl4
Jitterbug http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJS2pkbcRlI
Jitting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP2K5XZxwM4
Jive http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LasWINTwft8
Leroc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsJ8TG8h12s
Lindy Hop http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAAAV7BB1HU
Modern Jive http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLHZ92GblN4
Rock and Roll http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3U4mFO2xxs
West Coast Swing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3ZxiPKmacg
Traditional Chinese http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9SRS_z67nI
Clog http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTBYKnBqQzg
Geisha http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rebiXeM7h50
Greek Zorba http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx_QZzONqvs
Hula http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p97232Nm-8Y&feature=related
Indian http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW7sAMTLDas
Irish
Portugal
Romani http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHp5vg6HWvg&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL3128C97DE10699C0
Russian http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WpYWpN0VXU
Scottish
Sword dance
Turkish
Zydeco http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vncNPfLRFo&feature=related

Included are links to the description of most of the Dance STYLES with a YouTube video reference if I could find one.
I know that this list is both incomplete and wrong and I welcome your input on improving this first attempt to classify dances.

CHARACTERISTICS is a term I want to use to describe the most prominent unusual feature of a dance, if there are any. For example, a dance may be one that is on the floor. This "on the floor" CHARACTERISTIC is useful to know if that is what you are looking for. I am not sure what these CHARACTERISTICS will be until we make progress on classifying dances, but I expect 10 to 20 different CHARACTERISTICS that we will find.

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COUPLES CATEGORIES, STYLES, CHARACTERISTICS

The couples dances can be classified by the same CATEGORIES, STYLES and CHARACTERISTICS defined for Dances. I expect fewer STYLES. For example, I don't imagine a limbo couples dance or a Geisha couples dance.

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ANIM CATEGORIES, STYLES, CHARACTERISTICS

In classifying anims the CATEGORIES I chose are based on the position of an avatar while doing something:

  • Standing
  • Sitting
  • Ground Sitting
  • Lying
  • Jumping
  • Flying
  • Hovering
  • Swimming
Again I shortened the names to save space:
  • Stand
  • Sit
  • GSit
  • Lie
  • Jump
  • Fly
  • Hover
  • Swim
For the STYLES I went to the list of special animations that I have been issuing for about a year. This list defines what the anim is doing in one word or short phrase. Most of these apply to the Standing CATEGORY. The other CATEGORIES have a lot of anims in them, but I have not as yet defined a STYLE for each of these. This will come as the anims are classified. So, here is what the classification looks like for Anims:


TYPE CATEGORY STYLE
Anim Stand *Air
*Anger
*Anxious
*Applaud
*Arm Swing
*Arms Crossed
*Arms Folded
*Batting
*Beg
*Bored
*Bow
*Box
*Call
*Cheerleader
*Cheesecake
*Clean
*Cleavage
*Conductor
*Cough
*Crawl
*Crazy
*Crouch
*DJ
*Drunk
*Exercise
*Exhausted
*Express Love
*Fight
*Finish
*Flip-Cartwheel
*Flirt
*Greet
*Guitar
*Hail Cab
*Hand at Side
*Hand on Breast
*Hand on Elbow
*Hand on Groin
*Hand on Hair
*Hand on Hip
*Hands Behind
*Hands Folded
*Hands Over Head
*Hang
*Head Movement
*Hide
*Hold Something
*Jump Rope
*Kill Bug
*Knee Wiggle
*Laugh
*Lean Forward
*Listen
*Look at Nails
*Macho
*Meditate
*Military
*Model
*Moon
*Pace
*Palms Facing Out
*Palms Together
*Peace
*Point
*Read
*Religious
*Robot
*Sad-Cry
*Scratch
*Search
*Shake Fist
*Shot
*Shout
*Shy
*Sing
*Sleepy
*Smoke
*Snap Fingers
*Sneeze
*Snow Angel
*Spin-Turn
*Step Aside
*Stop
*Sway
*Talk
*Think
*Throw Up
*Throw Up
*Tie Up-Bind
*To Ground Sitting
*To Lying
*To Sitting
*Toilet
*Touch Foot
*Wait
*Wash
*Wave-Bye
*Wiggle Hips
*Win
*Zombie
Sit *
Ground Sit *
Lie *
Fly *
Swim *
Fly *
Jump *
Hover *

Some anims move the avatar from one position to another, for example, an anim for going from standing to lying. I placed these in the CATEGORY in which the anim starts, Standing in this example.

One problem with this classification scheme is that obvious anims such as those made for mermaids or for ballet are not easily found. In the anim TYPE, I propose using the CHARACTERISTICS to identify these uses of the anims. Although it seems contradictory to put Mermaid as a STYLE in the Dance TYPE and as a CHARACTERISTIC in the Anim TYPE, the alternative does not work. Having a STYLE of Mermaid in Anims would miss what the anim is doing, for example, spin-turn.


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POSE CATEGORIES, STYLES, CHARACTERISTICS

We do not use static poses often in dancing. Occasionally, a POSE may be used as a starting position or as a finish dance, if the ease-in time is reasonable. At this point I am not offering any classification of POSES. This will be done later.

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REFERENCES

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novelty_dance

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xxx
Nottoo