he ballet and computer science departments are joining forces to create the star of a future Utah Ballet production— a talking tree.

The concept of a talking tree is nothing new. It’s been seen before in such movies as “The Wizard of Oz,” “Babes in Toyland” and, of course, “Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.” However, Utah Ballet’s version, which was originally scheduled for this spring but will now take place in the fall or later, will present this old concept with a new twist.

Rick Wacko, associate professor of the department of ballet at the University of Utah and co-director of Utah Ballet this season, is gearing a new project involving what is called a Sensuit. The Sensuit can move like a giant animation and make a tree, or any object, “come to life” by mimicking the actions of a live dancer. Sarcos Research Corporation, located in Research Park, is lending the department the Sensuit.

Wacko, together with Director of Ballet West Academy Bene Arnold, will choreograph a new work for Utah Ballet titled, “The Linden Tree.” Based on a Slavic tale of the same name, it is about a linden tree that comes alive and grants wishes to an old man for not chopping it down. The old man and his wife become rich and gain many worldly possessions. Before too long, however, his wife becomes greedy and starts asking for more and more. Eventually, they lose everything and wind up with nothing. This is the linden tree’s punishment to those who ask for too much.

Wacko discovered Sarcos Research Corporation, the company responsible for building advanced robotic systems like the dinosaurs in “Jurassic Park,” on the Internet and realized that it was located on campus at Research Park. He then got together with John Hollerbach, a friend of his from the computer science department, and others to assist him on the project. Hollerbach’s side of the project involves motion capture with the Sensuit. He describes the Sensuit as “a whole-body goniometer.” It looks like an exoskeleton you strap to body segments. Position sensors at the joints of the exoskeleton measure joint angles, which are read by a computer and used to drive the joints of the computer animation.

For the Utah Ballet production of “The Linden Tree,” a dancer wearing the Sensuit will be backstage controlling the movements of the tree. This will all be done in real time—nothing will be prerecorded, so the tree that the audience sees as part of the backdrop will literally be live. There is still a lot to be done to make it work, but Wacko is excited about the project.

“I’ve been wanting to do something like this for a long time,” he said.

The art of combining elements of technology with dance is Wacko’s trademark. His earlier projects for Utah Ballet include larger-than-life puppets in “The Snow Maiden” and giant projected ghosts in “Scrooge.”

“I can’t ever do anything normal,” he said.

The new project will be the first of its kind in the department of ballet. “The Linden Tree” is sure to make history when technology meets the Slavs.
marissa@red-mag.com