How does theatrical movement go digital? Can one dance with light? In December, the theater group of DSND attended the approximately one-hour dance performance "Pixel" by the French Compagnie Käfig during a guest performance at the Kamani Auditorium in New Delhi.
In the form of a poetic interaction between the approximately 20 performers (exclusively men under the artistic direction of Mourad Merzouki) and countless, seemingly tangible moving light points, the performance experimented with a blend of contemporary dance and state-of-the-art digital projection. This created a poignant tension between the bodies of the performers and the stage designs made up of countless digital light points, which appeared like wind, water, or impenetrable walls. The boundaries between dance and visual theater to the virtual world were thus explored, inspiring the theater group to continue working on their own choreographic pieces.
Impressed by the cross-over project between dance, theater, light art, and projection, the theater group reflects on the insights gained for their own theatrical work:
Mino:
That was breathtaking and very creative. I have never seen anything so special before. If you have the chance to see something like this, you really should. A truly amazing evening.
I actually thought theater mainly consisted of voice work, like Romeo and Juliet. However, Pixel showed me that one can convey a lot just with their body and express actions and stories in a way that words never could.
Mariela:
An incredibly profound, heartwarming, unique performance. The music, the talent, the perfect combination and synchronization between digital and analog work was genius. That was certainly one of the most unusual and impressive performances I have ever witnessed. The dancers spoke to the soul and heart of the audience.
Yohaan:
I have never seen anything like this before. The seamless integration of technology and dance was definitely there. Truly talented performers and a performance that New Delhi will not forget quickly.
