OPTO NANO
– ABOUT THE WORK
OPTO NANO is an abstract and athletic journey through the cutting-edge research of Professor Paola Borri. Created with an exceptional cast of 5 performers, this contemporary dance work brings biophysics to the stage; exploring pioneering cell imaging techniques using microscopes and lasers. Light beams, laser pulses, symmetries, colours, and stretching cell bonds are some of the ideas which have informed the physical world of this work. Powered by an electronic sound score from critically acclaimed Welsh composer R.SEILIOG, the choreography proudly champions collaboration from across different worlds in a dynamic burst of movement, light and colour. Uniquely presented in both live and digital formats, the work is created for live theatre performances as well as immersive digital performances using motion capture and 360° film.
– RUN TIME
Theatre Performance: 60 minutes (with interval)
Immersive Digital Performance: 20 minutes + 10 minute pre-show film
– CREDITS
Artistic Direction & Choreography
Jack Philp
Sound Design & Original Composition
R.SEILIOG
Lighting Concept
Barnaby Booth
Lighting Realisation
Joshua Harriette
Costume Design
Esther Kilbride
Dancers
Gaia Cicolani
Fern Grimbley
Chelsea Gordon
Rose Lewis
Chandenie Gobardhan
Stage Manager
Kristian Rhodes
Lead Technician
Elizabeth Chiu
Digital Artists & Designers
Uncharted Limbo Collective
Academic Partner
Prof. Paola Borri
Filmmaker
Jonathan Dunn
Photographer
Kirsten McTernan
Mesmeric, striking and avant-garde
Hari Berrow
Buzz magazine
Enthralling. A unifying experience I shan’t forget
Hanna Lyn Hughes
Get The Chance
As a part of our 2022 Tour of OPTO NANO we premiered a digital version of the work using immersive 360° cinema. Together with London based digital art and technology group; Uncharted Limbo Collective, we created a digital film inspired by our scientific starting point and designed visuals for the dome at CULTVR Lab; a cross-disciplinary arts space bringing together digital arts, live performance and immersive cinema. We recorded our live stage show using motion capture equipment which was then used to inspire and affect the digital world overhead. The reimagined iteration of our production involved one cast member performing live under the visual film which contained data from our other dancers.
Tour Supported by: Arts Council of Wales, National Dance Company Wales, Chapter Arts Centre, Pontio Arts Centre, Theatr Clwyd, Taliesin Arts Centre, CULTVR Lab, Cardiff University, MUSIQ Consortium, Cardiff Dance Festival, Integrated Biological Imaging Network
– IMAGES AND FILM : KIRSTEN MCTERNAN, JONATHAN DUNN, UNCHARTED LIMBO COLLECTIVE