Dance of atoms

At the invitation of the Paris Opera’s 3e Scène, digital artist Hugo Arcier chose to explore dance and challenge our perception of movement. In Clinamen, the dancers’ bodies are exposed to virtual abstraction to give way to a ballet of atoms. Using synthetic images, Hugo Arcier imagines their movement contaminating their surroundings and setting in motion a futuristic Palais Garnier. He relied on the collaboration of Christine Bastin, Associate Choreographer at La Fabrique de la Danse, a structure promoting innovation in choreography; as well as Rémi Brun, founder of MocapLab, pioneer of motion capture technology. In this interview, the film crew reveals the birth of the project, the technology at use in its realization, and discusses the stimulating interplay of dance and digital art.