Future Dance of Nostalgia

2022

embodimentperformanceinteractive mediagaming

What kind of movements were once embedded in our collective body at work? how do we preserve the body movements and restore our moving bodies as the living archives?

Taking the form of classic video dancing games, Future Dance of Nostalgia invites audience to perform the choreography that extracts the movements found in the pre-industrial manual labour. Motion tracking technology allows the body movements to be measured and evaluated. Historical archives of work songs provide the inspiration for the music that renders the old tales and melodies into clubbing beats that lead the dance.

Through ethnographic research into work songs and the moving body, the project draws much needed attention to alternative historical archives of our times. The gaming technology, visual, and music, bring people closer to the past through a tangible and modern experience. The work also brings fun and togetherness to audience through public participatory dance sessions and interactive gameplay.