Neuroflamenco is an innovative project that explores the intricate relationship between flamenco dance and the neural processes that make this art form possible. Traditionally, dancers are seen as masters of their body movements, but this project shifts the focus to the role of the brain in controlling those movements. Understanding how the brain and body work together during dance has been challenging because conventional brain imaging methods, such as fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and standard EEG (electroencephalography), require the subject to either lie down or stay still.
The video showcases early rehearsals featuring Dr. Constantina Theofanopoulou, both a neuroscientist and flamenco dancer, accompanied by cajón percussionist Alberto Muñoz Sánchez.
To overcome this challenge, Dr. Constantina Theofanopoulou has pioneered a groundbreaking approach using mobile EEG technology, where brain activity data are transmitted wirelessly via WiFi or Bluetooth, allowing dancers to move freely without being restricted by cables (read relevant study here). Dr. Theofanopoulou’s team has also successfully developed a technique to visualize in-real-time the interbrain synchrony of five dancers performing simultaneously on stage, an achievement highlighted in both The New York Times and Dance magazine. The dance style chosen to pilot this technique was Butoh, known for its ultra-slow movements, which were particularly suited to maintaining the stability of motion-sensitive equipment.
“Neuroflamenco” aims to push the boundaries of these innovations by studying flamenco, a dance known for its rapid and powerful movements. The project aims to tackle critical issues, such as reducing interference from non-dance-related movements in the data (e.g., eye blinks) and maintaining high electrode impedance (i.e., ensuring the electrodes stay securely attached to the dancer’s head despite perspiration, which is often significant in energetic dance styles like flamenco). These difficulties can only be overcome through a close collaboration between dance and neuroscience, developing choreography that meets artistic requirements while allowing the body to carry essential research equipment (e.g., WiFi transmitters for brain activity). At the same time, scientific innovations must honor and align with the dancer’s artistic expression. The project
will culminate in a live performance where the dancer’s brain activity will be projected onto a screen behind them, offering audiences a unique glimpse into the neural mechanisms of flamenco.
Beyond its cultural significance, representing the rich gitano heritage of Andalusia, flamenco offers a unique opportunity for this project due to its distinctive relationship between dancer and music. In flamenco, dancers not only follow the music but often generate it themselves, leading the live ensemble. This allows researchers to investigate the complex dynamics of leading and following in dance. Flamenco also blends both rehearsed and improvised elements, with the dancer choosing in real time whether to follow a practiced routine or engage in spontaneous movement. Adding to the complexity and drawing inspiration from Constantina’s experience practicing flamenco in New York, the ensemble will incorporate unconventional instruments such as the double bass and saxophone, paired with traditional flamenco percussion (cajón). This blend of flamenco rhythms with jazz melodies, without the traditional presence of the flamenco singer and guitarist, will creatively shift the focus, placing the dancer at the heart of the performance.
The images capture moments of Constantina dancing while wearing an EEG cap, along with draft real-time visualizations of brain activity. This mobile EEG technology has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at Rockefeller University.