Dancers.ai and Totentanz Technology Overview

What is “Totentanz”?

Totentanz (also called T3) is a new application to decrease AI theft and training that occurs without choreographer and dancer consent. This solution was devised by Pedram Nimreezi, an AI engineer, and Nicole Perry, a dance and theatre artist. Momentum Stage is sponsoring the project, and it is funded through the inaugural “Performing Arts and Technologies Lab” grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Filmmaker Ed Talavera supportes the initial research and development of T3 by filming three dances created by Perry on South Florida dancers to create the data set for T3 processing.

The goal of Totentanz is to increase ownership and creative agency of artists. This project protects the creator(s), performance, and the performers, by providing tools and a platform for storing and sharing videos to choreographers who do not wish to have their works available for AI training. Another goal of Totentanz is to increase access to dance performances, through the platform of dancers.ai. This powerful combination of technological access and protection allows choreographers to promote their work, and reach audiences worldwide, while at the same time upholding their creative agency and protecting their intellectual property.

Funding for the Research and Development phase of Totentanz was provided by the Doris Duke Foundation.

Photos from filming two of the dances that will serve as the dataset for the Totentanz project. Dancers: Kalin Basford, Abbie Fricke, Mélanie Martel, and Sarah Romeo. Cinematographer: Ed Talavera. Choreographer: Nicole Perry. Photographer: Morgan Sophia Photography.