Aram Baghosian Photography
Refractive Choreographies
Throughout the month of May, Urbanity Dance will present a new work, Refractive Choreographies, around Boston, furthering its mission to bring dance to the masses and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Created in collaboration with MASARY Studios, Refractive Choreographies will be projected outdoors in neighborhoods and on buildings deeply impacted by the pandemic, including hospitals, schools, and community centers in Chinatown, Dorchester, Chelsea, and more.
Under the direction of Anderson, Company dancers filmed themselves dancing from their own homes, creating raw material for Stewart’s artificial intelligence to learn from. The AI is programmed to watch, mimic, and move with the performers, ultimately producing a digital representation of their dancing. With each projection, the AI learns from the dancers’ movement, gradually becoming a larger participant in and part of the choreography.
In accordance with social distancing guidelines and with public safety in mind, each projection will be presented “pop-up” style, with locations not being announced in advance and lasting no more than three and a half minutes. Filmed recordings of each performance will be further curated as mini-dance films to be shared more widely online to a broader audience.
Meg Anderson | Urbanity Artistic Associate and Choreographer
Jeremy Stewart | Video & A.I. Programmer
Ryan Edwards | Composer
Sam "Samo" Okerstrom-Lang | Projectionist
Rob Eckel | Videographer
Refractive Choreographies is made possible by generous support from the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture.
From the Creators
Refractive Choreographies is a response to our present condition and our needs as humans in this moment: to continue to build with each other, to continue to share--work, ideas, connections--with the public, to continue striving for the future that we want to build together.
–Jeremy Stewart, Video & A.I. Programmer
Refractive Choreographies is a piece that was being developed before COVID-19 caused closures, cancellations, and postponements. Being able to find a new stage for it was immediately a necessity for me. I needed to get this out to the world in a way that it could inspire and create community and awareness for the arts, especially dance, in a time where human contact and community has become so difficult and so important.
–Meg Anderson, Urbanity Artistic Associate and Choreographer
Urbanity Dance is one of Boston’s crucial arts institutions... As artists, and as a city, we can’t stop creating, sharing, and staying on our grind. Boston has what it takes to be smart and be tough, to bring innovation and roll up our sleeves. Here’s to everyone doubling down on that vibe, today and everyday."
–Ryan Edwards, Composer