The Data Twist: Co-designing a Survey for Public Performance

Authors

Lins Derry (The George Washington University)

Presentation

Session

VISAP Paper 1

Time

Wednesday, Nov 11, 08:12 – 08:24 (US/Eastern) · session 08:00 – 09:30

Location

Hall Essex south

Keywords

Co-design, participatory art, choreographic design, survey data, games, dance, choreography, performance, data embodiment, choreographic interfaces

Abstract

The Data Twist is a participatory art project developed with undergraduate and graduate students involving the co-design of an agree-disagree survey, dance games for responding to the survey, and interactive media including a website or choreographic interface, a reimagined Twister board, and wearables for mediating the games. Culminating in a public workshop co-facilitated with the students, The Data Twist ultimately uses survey data and dance games to foster humor, nonverbal debate, and togetherness toward reclaiming public space as a site for open, democratic communication through movement. This paper covers the project’s research motivations spanning the overlapping areas of data embodiment, participatory art, and democratic engagement, as well as the choreographic design process undertaken with the students at the University of Maryland, College Park over a two-year period.