Taiwanese choreographer Huang Yi (黃翊) will bring his iconic robot duet dance to the 2019 edition of the Cervantino International Festival in Mexico, one of the largest cultural events in Central America that greets up to 400,000 visitors per year. In addition to two performances on Oct. 11 and 12, Huang will also deliver a talk on Oct. 10.
The 36-year-old's dedication to developing and programming the robot KUKA is not only about the liaison between technology and performing arts, but also about the transformation of the impossible into reality by having robots dance with human partners.
"Huang Yi & KUKA" is a poetic duet of tender exchanges. Sustained by rhythms and gazes, KUKA develops a human-like ingenuity, whereas its partner's behavior becomes ever more mechanical and rigid. Despite its inability to improvise, the robot can express heartwarming affections through interactions designed and choreographed by Huang.
"Huang Yi & KUKA" is more than just a product that integrates arts with technology, it encourages audience members to re-examine the relationship between humans and their "tools." In the words of the choreographer, "Dancing face to face with a robot is like looking at my own face in a mirror."
Come by the Cervantes Theater on Oct. 11 and 12 for a poetic piece of amazing precision that makes the harmonious coexistence of modern dance, visual arts, and mechanical engineering possible. Huang will also share his artistic experiences and life lessons on Oct. 10 at the Iconographic Museum of Quixote.
Performance
Date: Oct. 11 – 12, 5pm (65mins, $250/$340)
Venue: Cervantes Theater
Address: Plaza Allende S/N, esquina con Miguel Hidalgo, Guanajuato
Talk
Date: Oct. 10, 11am (50mins, free entry)
Venue: Iconographic Museum of Quixote
Address: Manuel Doblado 1, esquina con Cantarranas, Guanajuato