Numbers: A Study of Probability and Art

Abstract

The relationship between random chance and choreographic techniques were experimented with in the creation of the ballet piece Numbers: A Study of Probability and Art. Research on probability theory including the law of large numbers, the binomial coefficient and the Poisson distribution as well as certain elements of chaos theory were used to justify the effectiveness of the compositional strategy of "chance dance." Notable choreographer Merce Cunningham's choreographic strategies were analyzed and his procedures were used as a model for constructing the piece. An equation was used with discrete inputs to generate a number sequence to be interpreted by a code of ballet terms. Ultimately, phrases were constructed in this "chance dance" way to create the choreography of the piece. The musical choice, structure as well as performance of the dance are discussed, followed by a reflection of the choreographic success of this process. It is determined that using random chance to create choreography presents a unique opportunity to construct fascinating phrases that would not have been thought of otherwise.