Event overview
This performance lecture introduces the concept of techno-choreography.
This performance lecture introduces the concept of techno-choreography, developed in the monograph Dancing Chineseness and Techno-Choreography (Routledge, 2026). The research explores how digital technologies including motion capture, virtual reality and real-time interactive systems reshape choreographic practice and the embodiment of cultural identity in contemporary performance.
The lecture incorporates a live performance demonstration drawn from Being River (2024), a work that investigates the relationship between dancing bodies and digital environments through motion tracking and sensor-based interaction. Using the metaphor of a river to reflect fluid and evolving identities, the session combines performance, theoretical reflection and discussion, offering insight into practice research at the intersection of dance, technology and intercultural performance.
Dr Zhi Xu is a choreographer, dancer, researcher and Senior Lecturer in Dance at Bath Spa University, where he leads the Centre for Performance Research. He completed his PhD at Brunel University London in 2021 with a focus on dance technology and cultural identity, and is the author of Dancing Chineseness and Techno-Choreography (2026), published by Routledge. He has created more than twenty works that have been presented internationally, spanning dance drama, dance theatre, site-specific performance, exhibitions and large-scale projects. He joined one of China’s most prestigious events as an independent director at the Summer Youth Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in 2014, and his work X-Body was selected for performance at The Place in London during Resolution 2019. Website: zhixu.org
Dates & times
| Date | Time | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Mar 2026 | 2:30pm - 5:00pm |
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