Brodmann’s Area [17] was a first of its kind artistic research project into the possibilities of VR storytelling for dance and theater.The title encapsulates the project, referring to the area in the brain that processes stimulus to make ‘sense’ of the external world.  This served as a metaphor to introduce local dancers and choreographers and creatives to the specific space and narrative structures of VR and its potential to expand choreographic creation. The project was structured as a series of progressive stages of development to acquire skills and knowledge of VR production for dancers and choreographers (the specificity of VR 360 space, design and creation of 360 choreography in an immersive context, using haptics), and for the tech artists to familiarize themselves with specific poetic ways in which dance narrates its ‘story’ different to narrative VR. The project explored VR space as a choreographic space of encounter, a ‘round-dance’ in which all are participants bringing the spirit of the communal origins of dance to VR immersive technology/choreography.

Produced with support from the National Endowment for the Arts-Media Arts and the Artistic Residencies at El Bastion with further support from the Mellon Foundation.