Witness the extraordinary interactive dance performance Imagining Otherwise from renowned choreographer Yael Flexer and digital artist Nic Sandiland.
The performance reflects on our experiences of parallel time zones, places and lives; exploring the idea of multiple stories and possibilities.
Immersive digital floor projections shaped and changed by the dancers’ movements evoke shifting organic landscapes interwoven with spoken text by writer Wendy Houstoun and music by composer James Keane. Interactive imagery, akin to live charcoal drawing, highlights notions of migration, transience, mark-making and erasure.
Imagining Otherwise raises images and themes of current pertinent issues such as migration, surveillance, identity, climate change and our impact on the environment. What marks do we get to leave behind? What do we do with the impact we make on the world?
We spoke to digital artist Nic Sandiland to find out what we can expect to see from the performance.
How are you feeling about your upcoming performance at WTM?
Very excited to be presenting work in our neighbouring Worthing! It’s great to work with such a supportive team bringing new work to the area.
Tell us a bit about the show. What does it mean to you to bring this to life?
The show is inspired by ideas of geography and where we, as people, end up in the world. It’s also a reflection on the choices we opt for in life.
What has the production and development of this performance looked like?
We did start a long time ago during the pandemic, which made things very difficult to rehearse. The 2m social distance seemed to echo themes of our modern lifestyle being separated by distance but co-existing in time.
What’s your favourite part?
There are lots, but I think the more poignant duets towards the end of the piece still move me. I also enjoy the raw energy of the dancers as they create the projected traces whilst whizzing around the stage.
What was the hardest?!
Well, mainly trying to get the tech to adapt to the conditions of each venue. It’s quite a time-consuming set up which requires specific lighting for the interactivity.
What do you hope to share with the audience?
A sense of wonder and excitement, and also to reflect on our strange lives which are half in the digital world and half in the physical.
Is there anything else of significance you’d like to share?
I think the venue is fabulous! We’ve been wanting to realise the piece as a more installation performance for quite some time. Having access to the Pavilion Theatre’s huge auditorium will really add to the spectacle.
