Dancing with ghosts: dancers’ embodied experiences and affects in virtual reality with avatar representations

GhostDance is a research project that looks at the interplay between
physical movement and virtual interaction, exploring how this
dynamic fosters a peculiar form of embodied intelligence, enriching
the dancer’s repertoire with novel kinesthetic insights.
This study investigates the novel intersection of dance and virtual
reality (VR), focusing on dancers’ experiences when engaged in
choreographed dance duets with ghostly avatar representations of
absent partners.
The paradigm shift introduced by dancing in VR transforms
traditional notions of space and performance. The fusion of virtual
audio and sound amplifies the emotional resonance of movements,
allowing dancers to perform in immersive environments that
transcend the limitations of traditional stages. The altered perceptual
field, shaped by the technological apparatus, renders a crafted and
almost hallucinatory reality that extends dance beyond conventional
boundaries, prompting innovative choreographic expressions and
collaborative endeavours. However, this transformation also raises
critical questions that we need to address. What are the technical
and emotional intricacies of adapting to a medium that blurs the
boundaries between reality and simulation? How do dancers per
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ceive and interact with the avatars as stand-ins for absent partners?
How does the virtual presence compensate for the absence of a
physical partner, and how does this unique experience influence
their artistic expression? Do dancers reinterpret and expand upon
previously choreographed duets?
Through in-depth interviews, this research aims to unravel the
intricate tapestry of emotions, challenges, and creative possibilities
that emerge when dancers engage with virtual avatars in previously
choreographed duets. The experiment involves dancers revisiting
duets originally performed with flesh and body partners, now
embodied by ethereal avatars in a VR environment. Through
qualitative interviews (performed using the Explicitation method
(Vermersch, 2012), dancers reflect on their encounters with these
spectral representations, delving into the nuances of connection,
presence, and artistic expression.