Action figures for learning

T

ticolora

Member
Sometimes I have no partner, and trying to figure out a move. I feel like using action figures would be a good tool to accomplish that.

1. What do you think of this idea?
2. Any recommendations for such figures? (I was thinking 6" toys of some sort)
 
That's a genuinely interesting idea, but I'm skeptical that there are any action figures out there that would have the articulation necessary for it to be truly practical.
 
I was thinking bionicles. Those guys have much articulation in joins (might even be too much). But perhaps using right parts it is possible to build a sufficiently anatomically correct model. We mostly care about elbow joint range of motion.
 
How would action figures help you more than just doing it yourself, even if you have to pantomime the lead?
 
twnkltoz said:
How would action figures help you more than just doing it yourself, even if you have to pantomime the lead?
Click to expand...

Doing the Tango with a life-sized doll (can) work...


Google for "life size doll" and you'd find (expensive) life-like dolls selling on Amazon, although
their primary purpose are suited as the "device for that" mentioned in the other thread.
Once past that purpose, the doll(s) could be used for a surrogate dance partner.
 
Partner Dancer said:
Doing the Tango with a life-sized doll (can) work...


Google for "life size doll" and you'd find (expensive) life-like dolls selling on Amazon, although
their primary purpose are suited as the "device for that" mentioned in the other thread.
Once past that purpose, the doll(s) could be used for a surrogate dance partner.
Click to expand...

He specifically mentioned 6” toys. But even with a life size doll, it's not much better than nothing.
 
twnkltoz said:
How would action figures help you more than just doing it yourself, even if you have to pantomime the lead?
Click to expand...
I remember back when I was starting, there would be days I'd be sitting and work, trying to work out how certain steps would work. (I mean ... totally working on work stuff.) I'm skeptical that an action figure exists that is able to move like actual people could or how useful it would genuinely be even if they did ... but I can see the appeal while chained to a desk.
 
@twinkltoz, that's a fair question. Though I (naively) assumed that everybody have this problem. Let me elaborate. I'd say I can pantomime most figures, however when figures involve turns and switching hands, I easily loose track of which hand I'm holding. This is only the issue when I'm learning a figure, once I know it - it stops being a problem.
The other area is follower's footwork, I need to know which foot lady is on (I know count tells me that, but it is still hard), and where that foot is (to figure out direction of a turn, mostly).

I try to ghost-dance, but keeping track of all those details (lady's support leg, position, hand hold) is hard for me. With an action figure I can "freeze-frame" the figure on an arbitrary count, and then pantomime it from there. Even better, I get 16 action figure couples, and position each for each half count. Then, with a strobe light, if I rotate my head just right - they'll come to life :)

I thought of using a blow up doll, but that causes certain logistical issues: "Honey, it is not what it looks like. This is just for practicing... dance practicing."
 
ticolora said:
@twinkltoz, that's a fair question. Though I (naively) assumed that everybody have this problem. Let me elaborate. I'd say I can pantomime most figures, however when figures involve turns and switching hands, I easily loose track of which hand I'm holding. This is only the issue when I'm learning a figure, once I know it - it stops being a problem.
The other area is follower's footwork, I need to know which foot lady is on (I know count tells me that, but it is still hard), and where that foot is (to figure out direction of a turn, mostly).

I try to ghost-dance, but keeping track of all those details (lady's support leg, position, hand hold) is hard for me. With an action figure I can "freeze-frame" the figure on an arbitrary count, and then pantomime it from there. Even better, I get 16 action figure couples, and position each for each half count. Then, with a strobe light, if I rotate my head just right - they'll come to life :)

I thought of using a blow up doll, but that causes certain logistical issues: "Honey, it is not what it looks like. This is just for practicing... dance practicing."
Click to expand...

Well, if you can make it work for you, go for it!

One thing that might help: whichever foot you're on, she's on the opposite unless the step involves a syncopation for one of you but not the other to get you on the same foot. In which case, she'd be on the same foot as you.
 
I know it is an easy suggestion for a computer nerd to make, but another thought is writing a program that animates stick figures, or a full bore animation program, or using the character editor in some games.
 
There may be a day in the not-too-distant future wear it may be difficult to recognize whether a dancer is human or robot. It could be a scary thing if robots are able to dance better than humans one day just as they are able to beat us at chess. WDBF, the World DanceBot Federation will take full control of dancesport. Enjoy it while you can. Haha
 
ticolora said:
Sometimes I have no partner, and trying to figure out a move. I feel like using action figures would be a good tool to accomplish that.

1. What do you think of this idea?
2. Any recommendations for such figures? (I was thinking 6" toys of some sort)
Click to expand...

Hi, I invented an exact solution to this problem. Does that interest you?
 
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