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Technology in Live Performance: Panel Discussion at Natya Kala Conference 2024

Writer's picture: Gaurav SinghGaurav Singh

It was an honour to present my work at the imminent Natya Kala Conference (NKC) 2024 at the Krishna Gana Sabha in Chennai, India at the panel discussion 'Taantrikam: Technology & Theatre'



The panel was curated and moderated by the amazing Madhu Nataraj (Founder, Natya STEM Dance Kampni and Director, Natya Institute), where I was joined by multi-faceted artists Prachi Saathi and Aravinth Kumarasamy (Artistic Director, Apsaras Dance Company) to talk about the different ways in which technology and media is being used to augment storytelling in dance and theatre.


Aravinth walked us through Apasaras' dynamic performances that blended traditional dance forms with projection mapping, 3D and computer-generated imagery (CGI) and sound-responsive lights, whilst Prachi shared her work 'WHEN WALLS DANCE', a unique 40 minute live performance she co-created with Upasana NR that brings together the classical dance form of Bharata Natyam, animation & tribal Warli art together.



I shared about mine and Kaivalya Plays' projects that blend live performance with 'live' technologies on stage and other sites of performance, such as 'Lifeline 99 99' an interactive one-on-one performance over the telephone and 'I, Josef', an immersive multimedia 'headphone theatre' performance based on Franz Kafka's 'The Trial' created in collaboration with the Goethe Institut Indien New Delhi. I also shared my research on AI technologies in live performance, building upon my experience as a BeFantastic.in Fellow in 2022, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation German Chancellor Fellow in 2023 and a Parivartan Arts Research grantee in 2024.


We also received many interesting questions by the audience around the aesthetic and affect-ive qualities of technology, along with the challenges of implementing such projects in India.


The Natya Kala Conference is an annual gathering of dance practictioners, scholars and audiences, initiated by the Sri Krishna Gana Sabha - India in 1981, to share knowledge, insights and understanding of dance and its world at large. This year's edition is conceived and curated by Bharatanrityam and Kathak exponents, Nirupama and Rajendra, with the theme of 'Abhijãta' inviting scholars, artists, practitioners, and enthusiasts to delve deep into the academic, artistic, and creative realms of Natya, celebrating its holistic essence as a "wholesome treat" for the soul

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