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The Control and Movement of the Body in Microgravity:
Insights from a Dancer's Research in Parabolic Flight
Fluid Trajectories, Kitsou Dubois (extract), 2001
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There were two closely related parts to the experiments: an investigation led by Kitsou Dubois into the ability of subjects with different experiences of dance training and weightlessness to control defined movements in zero gravity, and a neurophysiological study led by Nick Davey aimed at understanding the corticospinal control of movement in varying gravitational conditions.
The Arts Catalyst arranged a parabolic flight for Kitsou Dubois and three other dancers with the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, Russia, in September 2000 to undertake the first part of this investigation. A parabolic flight is when a specially-adapted aircraft undertakes a series of diving manouevres to create the conditions of zero gravity.
Dubois' movement protocol for this flight investigated: - the dancers' awareness of and the ability to control the extremities of the body during movement; - the dancers' awareness of their 'subjective vertical'; - the contribution to orientation and awareness of the body from contact with a partner.
Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre flight campaign - September 2000
Dubois had previously undertaken 12 parabolic flights with the French Space Agency. In 1998, she joined the Imperial group, in this collaboration facilitated by the Arts Catalyst, to work with neurologists, physiologists and other specialists investigating the control of movement of the body in altered gravities. The Biodynamics Group is: Bob Schroter, Nick Davey, Olga Rutherford, Anthony Bull, Alison McGregor and Alex Nowicky. The team - Dubois, the Biodynamics Group and the Arts Catalyst - made a successful application to the European Space Agency to undertake a neurophysiology experiment, led by Nick Davey, with Kitsou Dubois, a second dancer and a non-dancer control subject. Tests for this experiment took place on the ESA parabolic flight campaign in Spring 2002 and the experiment itself took place in Spring 2003. The experiment uses the technique of transcranial magnetic stimluation or TMS.
European Space Agency campaigns - March 2002 & April 2003
TMS is a method of directly stimulating selected areas of the brain with a magnetic field. Lasting only 10,000th of a second, the magnetic pulse produced by the TMS equipment stimulates neurons with a rapid change to the magnetic field. If a subject is trying to perform a task (ie by lifting an arm) TMS can be used to find out how the message is getting through. By reading out data while TMS is being used, the extent of a problem, for example a spinal injury, in sending a message down the spinal cord to muscles can be discerned.
In the team's experiments in parabolic flight, TMS was used to undertake a neurophysiological study aimed at increasing understanding the control of movement (postural muscle control) in zero gravity (0G), normal gravity (1G) and double gravity (2G) in subjects with different experiences of both dance training and parabolic flight, addressing the influence of gravitational fields on the control of limb muscles and how these are co-ordinated with 'balancing' adjustments to posture.
Outputs:
May 2000: Kitsou Dubois ran a masterclass at Circus Space, London, for experienced contemporary dancers, physical theatre and circus practitioners. It aimed at experiencing different aspects of gravity and methods of escaping gravity. Through studio work, trampoline and water, the participants questioned the concept of weight support and the ability to maintain moments of weightlessness.
July 2000: Intensive workshop led by Kitsou Dubois for group of dancers and acrobats to prepare for parabolic flight and associated research, Paris. Working in water and on trampoline.
September 2000: 'Altered States of Gravity', Art Space, Imperial College, London. Arts Catalyst presented a series of demonstrations by neurologist Nick Davey and a video installation of Dubois' dance in zero gravity and the team's interdisciplinary investigation for the British Association's Creating Sparks Festival.
April 2002: 'Gravity Zero', Lilian Baylis Theatre, Sadlers Wells, London, UK. Presentation of the work from this project by Kitsou Dubois, Nick Davey and Bob Shroeter, including premiere of video 'Trajectoire Fluide' by Kitsou Dubois and Eric Duranteau.
2002: 'Fluid Trajectory'. Installation. Various venues, France.
October - December 2003: 'Fille-Air', La Maison de la Photographie, Paris. An installation by Kitsou Dubois and Eric Duranteau, translating the documentation of Dubois' work on the Arts Catalyst Russian zero gravity flight in 2000 into an installation with powerful poetic and sensory impact.
December 2003: 'Trajectoire Fluide', La Villette, Paris. Performance by Kitsou Dubois incorporating video from the 2000 Arts Catalyst organised Russian zero gravity flight and with the company of dancers, acrobats, jugglers who participated in that flight.
April 2004: scientific paper 'Human corticospinal excitability in microgravity and hypergravity during parabolic flight' published in Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine 2004 Apr;75(4):359-63.
Forthcoming:
November - December 2004: 'Analogies', La Maison de la Villette, Paris. A new performance by Kitsou Dubois.
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