Greek Traditional Dances 3D Motion Capturing and a Proposed Method for Identification Through Rhythm Pattern Analyses (Terpsichore Project)

Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) includes the practice, representation, expression, knowledge, or skill, as well as the instruments, objects, artifacts, and cultural spaces that are considered by UNESCO to be part of a place’s cultural heritage. Intangible cultural heritage is considered by the Member States of UNESCO in relation to the tangible World Heritage focusing on intangible aspects of culture. Terpsichore project aims to, analyse, design, research, train, implement and validate an innovative framework for low cost digitisation, modelling, archiving, e-preservation and presentation of ICH content related to traditional dances, in a wide range of users. The Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki was involved in the performance of Greek traditional dances and the three-dimensional capturing. We performed three-dimensional recordings at the Laboratory of “Motor Behaviour and Adapted Physical Activity”. For data capturing, we used the Vicon 3D recording system. Six traditional Greek dances from different regions of Greece were performed and captured. The results of the three-dimensional capturing of movement showed that the assessment of foots’ movement through markers gives us the ability to identify Greek traditional dances. Finally, we distributed data from the recordings to the project partners in order to further analyse them for the fulfilment of the project objectives. With the completion of Terpsichore project, a bundle of services will have been created, including virtual and augmented reality applications, interactive maps, presentation and learning of traditional European dances with a significant impact on European society culture and tourism sector.