The 18th International Festival of Contemporary Dance
The 18th International Festival of Contemporary Dance, titled “We Humans,” is set to take place in Venice from July 18 to August 3, 2024. Directed for the fourth consecutive year by Wayne McGregor, the festival explores the intersections between humanity and technology. McGregor articulates the thematic focus of the festival through the multidisciplinary approach he is known for, bridging dance with fields such as computer science, visual arts, cinema, opera and training.
“Unwrapping the great complexity, contradictions and mystery that is human life – writes McGregor – is a career pre-occupation for the movement creatives invited to Biennale Danza 2024. All the artists and companies this year adopt the medium of dance as a philosophical act of communication – testing the fundamentals of our knowledge, challenging our notions of reality, and extending the understanding of our existence. Through their work they invite us to question where we have come from and where we are heading whilst probing the essential within, the what and the why of sentience. At the heart of their work are fundamental truths, expressed in uniquely made living choreographic objects that speak to us deeply, wake our instincts and prime our imaginations. Here new models of co-creation, experimental collaborative processes outside of traditional mediums and arts forms in conversation with nature, science, technology, and politics catapult us into unusual synergies with unexpected insight. Artists mining the expansive capacities of the human to exceed potential whilst together and quietly, gracefully, urgently reminding us that what We Humans share is far greater than anything that divides us.”
Throughout the festival, notable works include “De Humani Corporis Fabrica,” a film/installation by Véréna Paravel and Lucien Castaing-Taylor, exploring cutting-edge medical technologies. Swiss artist Nicole Seiler’s “Human in the Loop” tests the integration of AI within live dance performances, blurring the lines between the technological and biological realms.
Taiwanese company Cloud Gate celebrates its fiftieth anniversary with “Waves,” a cosmic dance choreographed by Cheng Tsung-lung in collaboration with digital artist Daito Manabe. This performance translates dancers’ movements into digital data processed by AI, creating interactive new dance forms on stage.
The festival also features interdisciplinary works like “Antechamber” by Romain Bermond and Jean-Baptiste Maillet, blending animation, film, and live performance. British photographer Benji Reid’s “Find Your Eyes” merges photography, dance, and storytelling, exploring themes of vulnerability and triumph through live photographic choreography.
Cultural explorations include Colombian choreographer Rafael Palacios’ “Behind the South: Dances for Manuel,” inspired by Afro-Colombian mythology and spirituality. The British theatre dance company Lost Dog revives classical myth in “Ruination,” presenting the myth of Medea as a contemporary courtroom drama.
Biennale Danza encompasses a diverse program of commissions, productions, and co-productions, nurturing both established names and rising talents. This includes works by young artists from Biennale College, who participate in an apprenticeship program culminating in new choreographic premieres.
Special engagements include a tribute to Golden Lion awardee Cristina Caprioli, known for her contributions to choreography as critical discourse. The festival offers workshops, discussions, and encounters to engage specialists and the public, enriching the cultural dialogue around contemporary dance.
Documentary efforts by Indigo Lewis and Ravi Deprees will chronicle festival performances for La Biennale’s Historic Archive of the Contemporary Arts, ensuring a lasting record of this vibrant celebration of dance and artistic innovation.
