Self-organized Pattern Formation of Whole-body Action-perception Coordination: A Study of Street Dancers and Non-dancers

The aim of this study was to investigate whether whole-body action-perception coordination is governed by dynamical principles using basic street dance movement. Six skilled street dancers and 8 novice controls performed 2 movement patterns: knee-flexion-on-the-beat (down movement) and knee-extension-on-the-beat (up movement) in the standing position, and they did not intervene in the pattern change. The beat rate increased/decreased between 60 and 220 beats per minute (bpm) in steps of 20 bpm. The relative phase between knee movements (as measured by twin-axis electrogoniometer) and the beat were calculated. In the ascending beat rate condition of the up movement, phase transition from knee-extension-on-the-beat to knee-flexion-on-the-beat occurred at averages of 125 bpm in non-dancers and 164 bpm in dancers. Critical fluctuation and hysteresis were also observed. These results suggest that whole-body action-perception pattern formation is governed by general dynamical principles and that critical frequency could be a parameter of proficiency in street dance.