In Limbo

Does artificial intelligence (AI) reflect not only humanity’s knowledge but also its essence? In his piece Mirror, Alexander Whitley explores this concept, drawn from Shannon Vallor’s philosophical book The AI ​​Mirror. The British choreographer is the ideal person for the task, having consistently charted the latest intersections of cutting-edge technology and dance with his own company since 2014. Following its premiere at Sadler’s Wells in London, Hessisches Staatsballett presented this visionary work as a co-production at the Staatstheater Darmstadt’s AI festival. Whitley employs motion tracking, a technique familiar from cinema (and used in dance since the days of Merce Cunningham). Seven cameras capture Tatsuki Takada and Sofie Vervaecke as they wear full-body suits equipped with ...