Dancing Conversation: A Dance History of Emerging Technology

Choreographer and Lecturer at Brown University Sydney Skybetter will present his research on the intersections of gesture, dance and computer science history. With case studies drawing from ballet history, Facebook’s Oculus platform and early motion capture research conducted with choreographers Merce Cunningham and Bill T. Jones, Skybetter will sketch a vision of the evolution of contemporary technologies undergirded by dance theory and choreographic method.

This dancing conversation is part of Dancing Lab: Immersive Media through Cunningham. NCCAkron is convening a group of dancers and technologists from around the country — including Rashaun Mitchell, Silas Riener, and Choreographic Research Consulting (CRC) – for a week of research and exploration on choreography, technology, and creative process.

After the talk, join us for a free scoop of NCCAkron’s latest collaboration with Chill Artisan Ice Cream. As Merce Cunningham often referred to the I-Ching or rolled dice to determine the organization of steps, Chill is offering “Chance Cream” between July 31-August 7!

Six different flavors will be assigned to each side of a die. Customers opting for “Chance Cream” will roll the dice to determine which ice cream combination they get. Flavors: Vanilla Cloud, Double Dark Blackout Chocolate, Honey Lavender, Strawberry Nesquik, Black Raspberry Ricotta Cheese, and Vegan Milk Chocolate.

This event is part of the Cunningham Centennial, a full year of programming around the world celebrating a century of American choreographer Merce Cunningham’s work and artistic legacy. For more, visit mercecunningham.org.