Dance has been around for centuries and was a way for ancient folks to bond and communicate. It is a form of non-verbal communication and self-expression and is often performed in rituals or social celebrations, but is also used as a way of entertainment. Dancing comes in different styles and different types of movements can be considered dancing. The definition of dancing according to the Cambridge Dictionary is: ‘the activity of moving the body and feet to music’. Today, dance can still be seen in traditional and social events, and it plays an important role in the entertainment industry. Dance performances are not limited to humans; artificial creatures also showcase their dancing skills, as illustrated in the following examples.
This video shows a robot of Boston Dynamics that dances to the song Uptown Funk. The robot does not look like a human, but more like a dog or other animal. Still, it can be seen as dancing by the way it moves rhythmically to the music. It can even perform a moonwalk-like movement.
Dancing can be seen in a lot of children’s toys, mostly for entertainment purposes, but also for educational purposes. This video shows a dancing cactus that moves its body parts in different directions. The movement does not have to be complex for it to be considered dancing, just a simple 'wiggle' of the arms and body can make an artificial creature look like it is dancing.
The purpose of these dancing artificial creatures is typically for entertainment. This makes me wonder whether, in the future, with further advancements in robotics, artificial creatures could potentially replace or complement human dancing in the entertainment industry. The examples provided also suggest that the movement of human-like body parts is essential for a performance to be considered dancing. However, maybe it could be interesting to create an artificial creature capable of dancing without human-like body parts. This could be a floating, luminescent orb featuring intricate patterns of light that synchronize with music. This artificial creature would move through the air, changing colours and shapes in harmony with the rhythm. The integration of technology and artistry in such performances could redefine the boundaries of dance in artificial creatures.