Network

DanceDigital is passionate about Dance and Technology.   We have been exploring this area for a number of years and have links with major exponents of this genre.  For us, Dance and Technology is the use of technological means to express an artistic vision and to communicate new ideas to a wider audience.

We do this through performance, discussion, ongoing artistic support and advocacy, working as a hub organisation to facilitate artists in their exploration of the genre, developing audiences and building new partnerships.

Glow

Glow is an international network of dance artists, companies, programmers, promoters and venues. Managed by DanceDigital, the network will allow conversation and ideas to flow between all of the members, keeping venues up to date with who is doing what, practitioners aware of funding and programming opportunities and producers involved with more dance creators you will find contacts within the Glow network on this website. Each member has a self-managed profile within the Glow network, with information about themselves and links to their work online. We are currently working on expanding the network and setting up an online skills sharing platform, where artists will exchange ideas and knowledge.

Research

DanceDigital runs a Research Programme with the goal of enriching the field of Dance and New Technologies, by supporting UK based artist to create new work. Our 2010-2011 research scheme, ‘Digital Environments’, features different approaches on the following subjects:

Theory

Digital culture is now an intrinsic part of the everyday. Digital technologies have changed the boundaries of how, where and when dance performance takes place. Networked, interactive and sensory technologies have contributed to the development of new performance vocabularies. Digital technologies have created new, and now accepted, modes of production and have repositioned dance performance as a multi-sited, digitally mediated art form. Digital Environments explores synergies between technology and the environment, digital eco-systems and the continued co-evolution of humans and technology through creative choreographic and live performance practices.

Practice

Digital Environments Artists ask questions about embodied practices, technology and the environment and deal with social, ecological and ethical issues and solutions in the development of digital environments. Digital Environments pieces include both installation based work and performance.

Commissions

Our commissions are made to artists and companies to create new pieces which utilise new technology/ new media elements. This year’s Commission Artists are the following:

Darren Ellis

Darren’s new work with DanceDigital, After Effect will be a light, sound and movement installation investigating rhythm and light. For more information on the Artist, follow this link.

Janis Claxton

Janis’s two new works, Humanimalia and Human Animal, will challenge perceptions of who’s watching who in performance and will expose performers and audience alike to the intrinsic evolutionary complicity between humans and animals. Both works are inspired by the choreographer’s on-going research into primatology.

Matthias Sperling

Matthias’s new project will be an interactive installation with performers using EEG technology to share thoughts as physical movement. Read more about the Artist.

Associate Artists

DanceDigital’s Associate Artist scheme assists choreographers in their development, building a close relationship with the artist and their work to provide advocacy and ongoing support support. In return, our Associate Artists work with us to provide a number of master classes and other work for both professionals and the local community. Each year, DanceDigital provides a performance platform in partnership with a host venue for its Associate Artists to showcase their work to regional audiences. This year’s Associate Artists are the following:

Tom Dale

Tom will be working on Cabin Fever 3, a continuation of Cabin Fever, a strong visceral piece about the phenomenon of cabin fever, which has been shown as part of DanceDigital’s Emerge 2010 showcase.

Nina Kov/Hellicar and Lewis

Nina’s work will focus on developing a piece of work that investigates connections between personal unconscious content and digital interfaces. View excerpt of the Artist’s recent work.

Adrienne Hart

Adrienne has worked as DanceDigital’s Associate Artist before. This year, she will create a piece with panoramic projections based on the novel ‘The Invention of Morel’ by Adolfo Bioy Casares. You can read more about Adrienne’s dance company, Neon Productions, on their website.

Kieran Sheehan

Kieran will be researching on the ways social networking and technology allow audiences to co-create aspects and the meaning of dance work.

Artist Bursary

Each year DanceDigital awards a bursary to Essex, Hertfordshire or Eastern region based artists working with new technology/ new media elements to develop their work. This year’s Bursary Artists are the following:

Marguerite Caruana -Galizia

DanceDigital will be supporting Marguerite towards creating an interactive performance/installation inspired by M.C. Escher’s impossible buildings.

Kinisi Dance Co.

Kinisi Dance Company have received a bursary award from DanceDigital for their research into the game of ‘Chinese Whispers’.

Symposia

DanceDigital curates a series of seminars and symposia on utilising new technologies in dance.  These symposia focus on the current state of Dance and Technology, what the future may look like and how we can influence it.