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Pattern Recognition
DanceXchange, The Patrick Centre
Birmingham Hippodrome
**** AS soon as it starts it is obvious that
Alexander Whitley Dance Company’s Pattern Recognition is no ordinary
contemporary dance production. The row of floor-based spotlights strobing their
beams of intense light around the auditorium and three industrial
fence-like gauze panels obscuring the view of the two dancers (David
Ledger and Julia Sanz Fernández) make the first few seconds a little
bewildering and somewhat difficult to watch.
But all soon becomes clear once the dancers move
the panels and spots around the dance floor. Choreographer
Alexander Whitely uses this piece to explore the relationships between
dance, motion-responsive technology and artificial intelligence (AI). The visual design created by Memo Akten involves
the use of motion sensors and moving lights to track, learn from and
respond to the movement of the dancers. Although there is set
choreography, the interactive elements are live and not pre-programmed
and therefore each performance will be original and unique, not only to
the audience but also to the dancers.
At times it was eerily beautiful and breathtaking
as the couple writhed balletically, telling the story of a human
relationship whilst being followed and observed by the ‘eyes’ of the
spotlights. There was a definite feeling of these lights being ‘alive’
almost human and part of the relationship which certainly added to the
captivating performance. Music created by Scanner and Oliver Coates
positively enhanced the overall effect. As stand-alone, the choreography was good but
fairly ordinary. No doubt this was a concession that had to be made in
order to integrate the technology. To achieve optimum response
from the motion sensors, each movement has to be carefully considered; a
process that is far more time consuming than conventional choreography. As an overall production it was creative,
mesmerising and unique. It successfully created a true synergy, not only
between the two excellent dancers but also the technology. Well worth seeing. (Look out for the lights
taking their bows). To 04-11-16 Rosemary Manjunath 03-11-16
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