Dancer DNA is a real time sound responsive, 3D graphics generating software. Dancer DNA evolved out of a project called Cybertation, first seen on the CD-ROM ‘The Evolution of Life with Richard Dawkins’. Originally Richard Dawkins created a basic, visual software to help demonstrate the evolution of genetics, by creating abstract 3D ‘creatures’. Notting Hill Publishers evolved Richard Dawkins software and re-named it Cybertation.
Cybertation evolved into Dancer DNA, whose graphic ‘creatures’ could now react to any sound input - morphing, evolving and dancing. The ‘creatures’ are bred and mutated, applying thousands of ‘years’ of DNA and genetic evolution at the click of your mouse button. Once a ‘family’ of ‘creatures’ had been grown, you can input any sound to trigger a visual response. We had everyone from Norwegian saw players, orchestra’s and opera singers, jazz musicians (who evolved their playing style from the acoustic to aesthetic such was the fascination of the graphical results), bands such as the Pet Shop Boys, to DJs acts like The Orb and Roni Size putting Dancer DNA through its paces.
Dancer DNA was marketed as two distinct products, as both retail and professional. For retail, it was aimed at the computer literate Tagamigochi, web browsing, file sharing, clubbing generation. And as a professional tool to be used for branding and advertising, especially in the fast growing live event, club and festival markets.
The club scene was crying out for innovative visuals; brands wanted a way to get involved in the clubbing scene without appearing to jump on the bandwagon, the DJs were becoming aware of the heightened atmosphere great visuals could generate, the promoters needed a unique selling point and the clubbers just wanted to get out of their noggins on a visual & music trip. And then, you could use Dancer DNA as a post club chillout 21st century larva lamp running off of your home PC, with the potential of advertising and branding (sponsorship). For example, for the launch of the Sony Playstation 2, an internet version (an early example of viral advertising) that you could download to you home PC had subtle branding by using colours, icons and logo.
Dancer DNA won many awards including the DTi award for Creativity & Innovation, and the team were awarded Young Creatives of the Year by Creative Review Magazine October 1999.
Credits: Dancer DNA (1998-2000)
Company: Notting Hill Publishing
Original Software Programmer: Richard Dawkins
Dancer DNA Software Lead Programmer: Homer Perry
Dancer DNA Software Programming: Geriant Johnson & Kingsley Pratt
Dancer DNA Software Sound Programmer: Jonathan Weinreich
Dancer DNA Software A.I. Programmer: Geriant Johnson
Project Manager: Ben Whittam Smith
Art Director, Textures & Skins, Branding, Graphics: Gareth Evans
