3D motion capture technology brought to life one of the most prolific films of all time, and now it'll be used to preserve some of the world's most ancient dances.Traditional First Nations dances are passed down from generation to generation, holding wisdom of the world and land and stories of the past. But if these dances aren't being passed down, how do you preserve them?Sharna Motlap is a proud Indigenous woman of the Mbabaram tribe of Queensland and of Hammond Island of the Torres Strait. In her talk, she showcases how tools like 3D motion-capture technology is poised to play a pivotal role in preserving traditional movement. She likens analysis of dance through video, a two-dimensional medium, to trying to understand a sculpture with a single photograph.TEDxCharles Darwin University was held by @charlesdarwinunint on August 9, 2025. Sharna Motlap is a Research Fellow at CDU’s Northern Institute. Her studies focus on nutrition, public health, and Indigenous health – specifically the prevention of non-communicable diseases and the improvement of the socio-economic factors. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx