Sarro Decoded reimagines the Brazilian street dance Sarro as an interactive beat that reacts to body movement, reversing the usual roles between dance and sound. The project shows how technology can both preserve and reconfigure cultural practice. It captures gestures in real time and translates them into rhythm, melody and effects. Tested with local dancers, the system was refined to match the energy and style of Sarro. Accessible on the web, it runs on any phone with a speaker, making the experience portable and open to everyone.
Dancers:
Novak, Oliver, Nogueira
Filmed by:
Isabela Talamini
Jonas Sanson
From the Streets of Curitiba to Code
Sarro emerged as a mix of shuffle steps and tech-house energy. It grew in Curitiba's underground scene and spread through social media and public spaces. With sharp footwork and expressive gestures, it moved from raves to online videos, becoming a cultural code of rhythm and style. Sarro Decoded translates this code into music using motion tracking.
An Interactive Beat Built for Sarro
The system was created to follow the unique rhythm of Sarro. Its steady pulse reflects the tech-house roots of the scene, while leaving space for improvisation. Each movement shapes the beat in real time, so dancers are not following music but making it as they move.
Your Moves Shape the Music
The system tracks arms, legs, and torso to map movement into sound. Raising hands triggers notes, opening legs changes the kick and bass, and quick gestures affect tempo and texture. Every step and gesture becomes part of the composition, turning dance into music in real time.
Dance Anywhere with Just a Phone
The system runs in the browser with no installation needed. A phone camera tracks the body and plays the beat, making it simple to use in the streets or at home.
Built with Sarro Dancers:
Refined by feedback
Tests were carried out at Largo da Ordem square in Curitiba, where dancers meet every Friday to practice Sarro. After each session, feedback was collected to adjust the system so it could flow better with the dance and allow more creative interaction. The main changes focused on timing, sensitivity, and rhythm.
Fast moves = High BPM
The tempo reacts to speed. Quick steps raise the BPM and build intensity, while slower gestures bring the beat down to a steady flow.
From Curitiba to London
On 4, 5, and 6 September 2025, Sarro Decoded was shown at the Computational Arts final exhibition at Goldsmiths. Throughout the event, visitors tested the app and explored the project in different formats. A poster on the wall explained the process with the dancers, a short documentary with test sessions and interviews played on a TV, and an iPad allowed the audience to try the app themselves.
