2026 Volume 33 Issue 3 Pages 478-488
This study investigated how culturally grounded movement characteristics relate to the aesthetic evaluation of Latin American dance. Using motion-capture data of Cuban Motion as reported by Matsuoka-Hatsuda et al. (2025a, 2025b), we analyzed the relationship between culturally specific kinematic features and subjective evaluations of movement quality. Twelve Latin American dancers (six experts and six non-experts) performed Cuban Rocks, and their movements were quantified using four indicators: symmetry of motion trajectories, circularity (trajectory smoothness), intrapersonal coordination between heels and other body parts (CcrHeel), and rhythmic stability. Trained judges evaluated each performance across four culturally grounded factors—Aesthetics, Temporality, Spatiality, and Dynamism—based on adjective-pair rating scales. Linear mixed-effects modeling revealed that symmetric movements by expert dancers were rated higher on the Aesthetics and Dynamism factors, consistent with cultural values of balance, stability, and power in Latin American dance. Circularity showed a positive effect on both Aesthetics and Temporality, suggesting that smooth trajectories enhance perceived aesthetic and rhythmic qualities. In contrast, high CcrHeel values were negatively associated with aesthetic ratings, indicating that heel–body coordination primarily underlies technical stability rather than visual appeal. Although rhythmic stability did not show a significant effect, a positive trend for Spatiality suggests that stable rhythmic cycles contribute to a sense of spatial expansiveness. These findings quantitatively demonstrate that culturally grounded aesthetic values in Latin American dance emerge from the integration of symmetry, smoothness, rhythm, and intersegmental coordination—offering a quantitative account of the embodied cognitive processes that constitute culturally specific dance expertise.
