“Waves” of Innovation: Cloud Gate’s Dance with AI

Cloud Gate’s latest sensation, “Waves,” abandons narratives, placing the spotlight on the dancers. With a touch of AI, the production inspires us to envision the possibilities of dance in the age of artificial intelligence.

Sense of Wander: ★★★★☆

In Cloud Gate Dance Theatre’s latest production, “Waves,” 12 dancers form a body tsunami. Image courtesy of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre.

TAIPEI, Taiwan — In a mesmerising dance of energy that transcends the visible and tangible, our world is a symphony of waves, an intricate composition where everything, from the grandest mountains to the tiniest particles, is woven together by the delicate threads of oscillating forces.

From the gentle ripples on a tranquil pond to the mighty ocean waves crashing against the shore, the universe orchestrates its cosmic ballet through undulating patterns. Light reveals itself as waves of electromagnetic energy, while the silent whispers of the wind and the harmonious melodies of sound are audible landscape sculpted by waves, resonating through the air and bringing music to our ears. Our very thoughts, too, may be seen as waves of neural activity, an intricate dance of electrical impulses that form the foundation of consciousness. Waves, the ethereal architects of our reality, shape the very fabric of existence.

This omnipresent existence became the source of inspiration for Cloud Gate Dance Theatre’s latest production, “Waves.” The emphasis on waves, which forms the basis of all existence, also led Cheng Tsung-lung, Artistic Director of the company, to bring the focus onto the dancers — with a touch of AI magic.

Indeed, the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) aligns this production with the spirit of our time. Right from the beginning of the performance, the AI-generated visuals on the backdrop resonated strongly with the data paintings I encountered earlier at the Poetic AI exhibition by Ouchhh Studio. However, “Waves” goes beyond a mere juxtaposition of dance and AI — there is much more beneath the surface.

As the performance unfolds, a captivating interaction emerges between the AI-generated dancer in the backdrop and the live dancer onstage. The playful interplay, where the on-stage dancer seamlessly merges with the AI-generated counterpart and vice versa, contributes to this visual feast. But the innovative use of data doesn’t stop there; everything in “Waves,” from the music to the visuals, is generated using data collected from the dancers themselves.

In collaboration with Daito Manabe, an award-winning media artist renowned for his collaborative ventures with musical and dance luminaries such as the likes of Ryuichi Sakamoto and Björk, “Waves” is a fascinating world of its own. Manabe used cameras to capture the dancers’ movements, which were then processed and simulated through generative AI for the visuals. “The LED screen is like a canvas, and data serves as our palette. The dancers’ movements, body data, images, and sound signals are transformed into waves, connecting the stage and the audience, threading through different spaces,” says Cheng.

This captivating image freezes a solo dancer in a wave of motions, showcasing a stunning visual feat. Image courtesy of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre.

As rhythmic beats and synthesized sounds fill the background, creating an ambiance reminiscent of dance floors, it’s important to note that this isn’t your typical DJ music. The music is a product of the dancers’ physiological signals, including the electrical impulses from muscle contractions, captured using electromyogram (EMG) sensors attached to their bodies. This innovative approach allows the audience to not only watch the dancers on stage but also to hear the pulsation of muscles and the dance of cells. It’s akin to an augmented reality (AR) experience, where spectators seemingly enter the dancers’ body.

This unique fusion of human physicality — embodied in the dancers’ movements and minds — results in a symphony of both visual and auditory landscapes.

For Cheng and Manabe, their primary aim lies in presenting the dancers’ bodies, with Manabe’s technological contributions inspiring Cheng to infuse new movements and expressions into the choreography.

Intrigued by the possibilities beyond the constraints of the human body, Cheng encourages dancers to break away from familiar movements, exploring the potential and limits of the body. Like scientists and philosophers, artists also seek the ultimate reality. Throughout this explorative and creative journey, they kindle our imagination towards the unknown.

Onstage, we see a solo dancer engages with an AI-generated backdrop, while duets and trios unfold in a mesmerising dance of quantum entanglement. The entire ensemble, forming lines that mimic the ebb and flow of waves, presents a 70-minute spectacle; this spectacle of 12 dancers converging into a “body tsunami” navigates the boundary between reality and virtuality. A moment of particular intrigue occurred when the LED screen, initially facing the audience, pivoted sideways and descended onto the stage like an elevator, seemingly compressing the dancers underneath as they lowered their bodies.

In “Waves,” the dancers’ on-stage performance merges with the mesmerising AI-generated visuals in the backdrop. Image courtesy of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre.

While “Waves” represents Cloud Gate’s latest venture into the realm of technology, some audience members view it as a sequel to “Hairpin Moon,” which premiered in 2019. In this exploration of humanity and technology, “Hairpin Moon” juxtaposed giant LED screens with relatively diminutive dancers, conveying a poignant sense of inescapable loneliness amidst technology and the collective struggle for liberation.

As Cloud Gate celebrates its 50th anniversary, Cheng Tsung-lung takes a stride forward from the company’s 2022 production, “Send In A Cloud,” where the focus shifted to interpreting dancers’ inner states and emotions through movements. In “Waves,” Cheng delves even deeper, magnifying the presence of dancers and their bodies while exploring both the physical properties and symbolic meanings of waves. “Waves” also serves as a metaphor, contemplating how the advent of AI has profoundly impacted society, ushering in a revolution that ripples through our world.

The fusion of AI technology and dance seen in “Waves”, as well as in Huang Yi and his dance with the robots in “Dancing Ink” staged last summer, prompts compelling questions: What defines the human in this synthesis? With the intervention of AI, where is humanity, and what does the future of dance hold?

Cloud Gate boldly claims that “Waves” has no story, only the narratives of the bodies — a testament to the company’s enduring focus on redefining the body.

In fact, the company has long been acclaimed for its exploration of chi, integrating Chinese martial arts such as Tai chi and Neijia. This transformative concept, introduced by company founder Lin Hwai-Ming, shifted dance from an outward expression to an internal manifestation. Following his trip to India, Lin infused his choreography with a meditative quality, highlighting the profound stillness of the body. It’s as if he took the dancers’ bodies off the altar, subtly suggesting that their bodies are as ordinary as yours and mine.

Debates persist about whether Cheng Tsung-lung is steering Cloud Gate in the right direction. Some argue that the company’s dancers are now merely “moving around” without a profound understanding of dance. Others express concerns that the company might be deviating from the unique positioning envisioned by Lin Hwai-Ming, potentially blending into the contemporary dance landscape like many others.

To secure its standing in the world of contemporary dance, Cloud Gate must persist in redefining the body and its connection to modern society. While exploring AI is a worthwhile endeavour, the company's future, in my view, may necessitate a return to its cultural roots, recognising the profound influence of culture on the human body. While AI trends globally, its lack of cultural specificity raises questions.

Will Cloud Gate’s artistic exploration, akin to gentle ripples on a pond, evolve into ocean waves, reaching a shore that astonishes us all? Only time will tell.

Reference:
Program notes for “Waves”. October 12-15, 2023, National Theatre, Taipei.

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre’s “Waves” was premiered at the National Theatre in Taipei, Taiwan, on October 12, 2023.