Totentanz Overview
Nicole Perry is filmed by Ed Talavera, and processed with pose estimation by Pedram Nimreezi
What is “Totentanz”?
Totentanz (also called T3) is a new use of pose estimation and facial recognition technologies 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.
The goal of Totentanz is to increase ownership and creative agency of artists. This project proposes to protect 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 (coming Srping 2025). 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.
Filmmaker Ed Talavera will support the initial research and development of T3. He will film dances created by Perry on South Florida dancers to create the data set for T3 processing.
Funding for Totentanz is 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.