ABOUT

The Body of Light show is a 30 minute performance with one dancer and a projection screen.

We use a Microsoft Kinect sensor to read the movements of the dancer and then use that data to generate and control graphics which are projected onto the dancer and the screen.  

The connection between the computer and Kinect is made through some open source software called Synapse and the magical imagery is generated with Apple's free software Quartz Composer.

From day-one our aim was to create a beautiful piece of professional contemporary dance that was integrated with high-end technology — and for it to be compact (tourable) and low cost.

A very popular part of the show is the Stay and Play where audience members — young and old — can experience interacting with the technology themselves.  This has proved very beneficial in settings such as Alder Hey Children's Hospital (Liverpool) where even children with limited mobility could participate.

The research phase of the production took place in Guernsey's Princess Elizabeth Hospital which lead to conversations with health professionals around the benefits of such technology for encouraging people to move and exercise.  We also connected with the 'Gateway Club' for adults with a range of learning disabilities.  We joined them for one of their regular disco nights and everyone was enthralled with the interactive nature of the technology.

Similarly we spent a week in Bolton with a large group of children with Special Educational Needs who were about to move up from Primary to Secondary School.  In carousel with other arts engagements we worked on a dance routine that used the technology to make a show at the end of the week.

Our experiences at Alder Hey, with the Gateway Club and in Bolton have been very rewarding.






The Body of Light team can be booked by contacting Sarah Trist at STDMA. or our Director/Choreographer Darren Pritchard.

The show is a largely self-contained touring work.  We have minimums for stage sizing to accommodate the projectors and screen.

Our technical requirements can be downloaded here.