www.danceumbrella.co.uk/virtual2001/

Explorations into the (r) evolutions of dance and digital technologies

'This great leap forward in the dance experience is part of a techno friendly strand in the Dance Umbrella season called VIRTUAL INCARNATIONS' (Metro)

A dance umbrella/shinkansen/ICA/Future Physical (East England Arts/shinkansen in association with Essex Dance Agency) focus on the evolution of dance and choreography in the context of developments in digital technologies

Event 01: Trajets:

Wed 10 - Sat 13th Oct 2001: ICA, London

Dance, digital images, sound and architecture combine in this haunting installation. Vision sensing and 'fore field' software creates a mesmerising effect as 12 suspended screens onto which abstracted images of moving bodies are projected, appear to dance with the visitor.

Created by an international collective of artists: Co-produced with the Banff Centre for the Arts as part of the Canadian Cultural Innovation Initiative. Supported by the Arts Council of England, Canada Council for the Arts and Stentor Communications.

Sat 13 Oct 2001: ICA, London

Are interactive systems fully developed or are we still at a response stage? What are the creative possibilities for the users of the future and how may this affect creative control?

Moderator: Ghislaine Boddington (shinkansen/Rescen).

Panel: Gretchen Schiller (choreographer, video artist)/ Suzan Kozel (dancer, choreographer, writer)/ Robb Lovell (dancer, software developer)/ Scott de la Hunta (researcher, writer) / Shobana Jeyasingh (choreographer) / Jo Hyde (digital artist)/ Kirk Woolford (media designer).

Tues 23 - Wed 24 Oct 2001: Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

A poetic and sensual spectacle that pays tribute to the human body. While sets and lighting provide diverse theatrical settings, magnifying lenses, scattered across the stage, create a dazzling effect like a close up in a film. 'Through the dance, different depths of field and perspective are given form. Marvellously playful and a little bit moonstruck' Neue Luzerner Zeitung

Moving Target: Fri 26 - 27 Oct 2001: Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

Frederic Flamand's boundary pushing exploration of real and virtual performance and the mediatisation of modern life. The stunning design, by New York architects Diller and Scofidio, incorporates a mesmerising 'mirror' effect that shifts perspective to schizophrenic effect. 'Transcends the boundaries of human possibility' The Times

Plus:

Fri 2 Nov: The Place

The world premiere of eight new screen based productions funded by The Arts Council of England's Dance Department to encourage the use of new and emergent media alongside video and film. Shown as part of Dance on Screen at The Place

The first Virtual Incarnations commission has been awarded to Tom Sapsford (Royal Ballet). The award will focus on development, support and investment to encourage choreographic collaboration with digital artists.