British choreographer Wayne McGregor’s latest creation, Deepstaria, is set to make its Asian premiere at Hong Kong’s Xiqu Centre after debuting at the Montpellier Danse festival. Named after a genus of rare, shape-shifting deep-sea jellyfish, Deepstaria brings together dance, technology, and AI to create a unique performance experience. Nine dancers from McGregor’s company perform in a darkened space designed to replicate the eerie, sunless world of the jellyfish.
The performance space is coated in Vantablack, the ultra-dark, light-absorbing material made famous by artist Anish Kapoor. This material gives the dancers an otherworldly glow, as if they are floating in a void, mirroring the deep-sea creatures they are inspired by. The use of Vantablack amplifies the unsettling and mysterious nature of the jellyfish’s environment, while also creating a disorienting yet captivating atmosphere for the audience.
What sets Deepstaria apart from typical dance performances is its real-time AI-generated music. The dancers respond to a dynamic score created by sound designer Nicolas Becker and music producer Lexx, which is continually recomposed by an AI system called Bronze AI. This allows for a fresh, unpredictable experience with each performance, making every show slightly different from the last. McGregor believes this exploration into AI parallels the metaphorical “blackness” of the unknown—symbolizing both the mysteries of deep space and the possibilities of AI in the future.
McGregor, a pioneer in integrating digital technology with choreography, has embraced AI’s potential to enhance the understanding of the human body and expand the creative scope of dance. However, he emphasizes that technology should not replace the human element but rather serve as a tool for creative enhancement. His company previously collaborated with Google to create an AI-enabled archive of 25 years of dance records, providing a detailed analysis of each dancer’s unique style.
While McGregor’s use of AI in Deepstaria is groundbreaking, he assures that the heart of the performance remains the relationship between body and sound. There are no video projections or virtual worlds in this piece, as McGregor aims for a pure dance experience.
In addition to Deepstaria, McGregor is working on a follow-up piece titled On the Other Earth, which will be an immersive and interactive installation premiering in 2025. This collaboration with the Hong Kong Ballet and Jeffrey Shaw’s Future Cinema Systems promises to further push the boundaries of how dance is experienced.
With Deepstaria, McGregor continues to explore the intersections of art, technology, and the human body, while creating performances that both challenge and enchant audiences.
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