AiEP's DANCEtheDISTANCE: VR choreography bridging bodies in lockdown

AiEP Avventure in Elicottero Prodotti launched DANCEtheDISTANCE, a virtual reality choreography project, at the virtual inauguration of MEET Digital Culture Center in Milan. Supported by Fondazione Pro Helvetia and co-produced with MEETcenter/Intermedialab, FIT Festival di Lugano, and Fab Lab SUPSI, the project explores the relationship between the dancing body and digital space, driven by the need for new performance formats during lockdown. Artistic directors Ariella Vidach and Claudio Prati describe the work as an extension of their 30-year investigation into digital interactivity, now using 3D VR to create a 'phygital' hybrid reality. Viewers wear a headset and become avatars in a lifelike space where they can fly or teleport, experiencing sensations that feel like real memories. The first phase, on September 12 for Ars Electronica, used Mozilla Hubs for a guided tour of their research, with 20 participants per session. The project introduces 'threshold' as a concept bridging physical and virtual realms. Future steps will include ticketed access with VR headsets mailed to viewers. The company aims to clone full-body movement in real-time on shared VR platforms, a technically demanding goal currently limited by cost.