We have built Idometrics to address dancers' exploitation in the social media era

The idea for Idometrics originated in 2021, when Joseph Okeme, a professor in McMaster's science faculty, heard the heartbreaking news about the "Renegade" dance. Jalaiah Harmon, then a 14-year-old Black student, created the choreography as a school project, yet more famous TikTokers received the credit and recognition. Jalaiah's experience exemplifies how creators from minoritized groups have long been exploited.

Determined to change that, Okeme explored how AI could detect dance plagiarism and how digital storytelling could authenticate origin, because only the true creator knows their narrative. He recruited:

• Juwairiah Zia, AI researcher

• Selina Mudavanhu, professor of communication and media (digital storytelling)

• Peter Okeme, blockchain programmer

Early on, McMaster engineering professors Jamal Deen and Shahram Shirani offered invaluable advice and continue to support the team.

Today, Idometrics ensures every dance move is celebrated and properly credited. We're deeply grateful to the Arts Research Board for the seed funding that made this platform possible.