What it is…

Ephemeral Gumboots is a human/computer-dance/music interactive system. Real-time rhythmical input from a dancer into a program ‘humanises' electronic beat-driven music while at the same time the dancer is exposed to a complex and diverse palette of prepared musical samples.

According to the notion of ‘play' as a basis of culture, Ephemeral Gumboots is a game (for anyone to try) and an interface through which the professional gumboot dancer can create digital music with his/her body. At the same time, it is also a dynamic system in which the composer can explore different compositional opportunities presented by having real-time rhythmical input from a dancer.

Ephemeral Gumboots consists of eight components:

1. Human dancers, wearing
2. gumboots, that have
3. sensors attached to them.
4. These sensors are connected to a voltage-to-midi converter box
5. which is connected in turn to the computer's soundcard.
6. Inside the computer this data first goes to a router program in Max/MSP
7. and is then sent to Ableton Live4.0 which contains prepared audio samples that are triggered and mixed and can be heard over a
8. surround sound system

by the dancers…