On Tuesday, I encountered a nuanced, warm and humane performance, an intersection between dance and digital technology. Where we Meet is a collaboration between two women, Clemence Debaig, Artistic Director of Unwired Dance Theatre, and choreographer / dancer Livia Massarelli. Clemence Debaig is a dance artist, XR designer and creative technologist exploring notions of control, empathy and intimacy, and her company is based both in Bordeaux and London. Livia Massarelli is a multifaceted dance artist, educator and expert in meditation and coaching working between Italy and the UK.
Where we Meet explores the role of XR technology to allow us to listen to and empathise with the inner world and thoughts of three dancers, Livia Massarelli, Ryan Naiken and Sara Augieras.
The audience is given headphones, and we’re invited to move around the space; as we do, we hear first one, then another of the dancer’s thoughts spoken by voice artists Caterina Grosoli, Lisa Ronkowski, Iain Ferrier and Zoë Trassl.
Each dancer, captured in a circle of light, has a blend of set moves and improvised material, and they can choose to ‘invite’ us into their space to move with them. Simultaneously, their wearable devices allow the dancers to decide what we may hear of their inner lives. Apparently complicated, the performance feels incredibly smooth as we seamlessly shift from audience to dancer as we wish.
It’s a beautiful performance, from the moment of arrival at Proto in Baltic Quarter, Gateshead to the last moment of reflection and the chance to write thoughts and comments on Post-its in the foyer area. Nothing feels random, and in this way, we feel respected and part of a rather magical experience, which was all too short.
Costumes enhance the dancers’ personalities and work well in the simple but effective lighting. The soundscape, composed by Christina Karpodini, and text, written by Emma Nuttall, are quite wonderful; text is both moving and sometimes quite dark, whilst the movement doesn’t reflect it, giving a layered experience.
The work has a female perspective and uses technology holistically, humanely, and the performance is without technical mistakes, which are not infrequent when XR technology is complex! Observing the dance, listening and becoming the dancer, however briefly, was seamless and satisfying.
To find out more visit Unwired Dance Theatre's web site.
Further performances are on 7 June at Voidspace Live, Theatre Deli, London and 12 July at Jacobs Pillow, Becket, Massachusetts.