Extending the Body: An Embodied Practice as Choreography in Virtual Reality Performance

Abstract

This paper chronicles the exposition of the artistic practice and process for Extending the Body which utilizes an embodied dance practice with Virtual Reality (VR) as a partner in live streamed performance. Situated in phenomenology and the affective response of the body, the performer instigates a call and response between themselves and the virtual reality painting program, Tilt Brush, that can be viewed from the physical and virtual world. When viewed in the physical world, additional elements of prosthetic Othering are witnessed, argued to present as “theatrical prosthesis” and cyborg feminism. When viewed in the virtual world, the body of the performer is absent. Live performance results in both a dual presence and layered perspective by both performer and audience. Extending the Body is the result of a three-year research process investigated within proscenium, installation, multi-dancer rehearsal processes, and research presentations that delve into the autoethnographic, phenomenological, and performative drawing lineage of the practice. More investigation is needed to understand future ramifications of this practice, but one element is clear: working with VR as a partner requires the same empathetic response as human collaboration and perhaps in the future, this could result in more empathetic relationships with technology.