"Intentional Gear"

About

The premiere of this engaging 20-minute solo performance, combines original choreography, costume, and music to create an immersive exploration of the mechanisms of human movement, pushing the boundaries of dance and expression.

"Intentional Gear" delves into movements such as spring/recoil, swing, and chain reactions. The piece aims to capture the essence of these mechanical aesthetics, creating a specific quality of motion that exudes both intrigue and beauty, neither machine nor human. By combining repetitive mechanical movements, the performer’s facial expressions, and palpable emotion, a soundtrack crafted by both computers and the human hand, along with a custom-made outfit that shapes Shoodihal into a Cyborg-esque figure, every aspect of "Intentional Gear" works together to create a final product, as do gears in a machine. Every visitor to this performance will feel themselves become a part of this mechanism, as viewers are another essential facet to "Intentional Gear‘s" engine.

About the Artists:

Ashveena Shoodihal, a renowned Italian contemporary dancer, has honed her skills through years of teaching, learning, and living dance. From seeing hip-hop on the streets of Milan during her teenage years to studying structured improvisation under the mentorship of Franca Ferrari to learning the importance of incorporating technique and emotion into performance with instructors such as Serena Zanconato, Shoodihal’s work is an amalgamation of a life lived through dance.

Emma Roudine, a visionary costume designer, has crafted a costume that complements the performance. By working with Shoodihal throughout the process of “Intentional Gear,” Roudine’s addition to the final piece ensures that no facet of it is unintentional. The sound design for “Intentional Gear” is a crucial element that enhances the immersive experience.

Pietro Ansidei (“ilQuArto” on SoundCloud) uses his original experimental AI tool, “RandoMidi,” which randomly created melodies used in the soundtrack after being trained with music scores. Ansidei added creative elements to the computer-generated melody, creating a final sound that is also “bionic,” as it is both human and mechanical. The result is a mesmerizing fusion of human creativity and artificial intelligence.

Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the fusion of dance, music, and cutting-edge technology in “Intentional Gear.” Join us for an evening of artistic exploration, where mechanical and human elements intertwine to create a spellbinding performance, showing what Shoodihal has been able to create during her one-month residency at SomoS.