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Prehension Blooms

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A performer in a lycra suit jumping in the air

Neon Dance presents Prehension Blooms, an interactive contemporary dance show that incorporates world-class performers, immersive sound design and music and the latest in AI robotic technology.

Prehension Blooms explores relationships and themes of companionship and loneliness; set in a distant future and ancient past – an alien world of sand where robot creatures lurk underfoot.

Conceived by choreographer and director Adrienne Hart, acclaimed for her previous Neon Dance works (Empathy, Puzzle Creature) Prehension Blooms features specially made, insect-like robots, named by the team as ‘hōki-mon’ (rake monsters), designed and built by Bristol Robotics Lab in collaboration with award-winning visual artist Ana Rajcevic.

The weave of dance and movement between the hōki-mon, dancers and the audience is presented with an original score by composer Sebastian Reynolds, whose cinematic, electronic soundscapes help transport audiences to another time and place.

Presented by Bristol Beacon

Unreserved seated event

Ages: 10+ (Under 16s to be accompanied by an adult)

Doors: 19:30
Start Time: 20:00

 


This event is supported by PRS Foundation

New music supported by Renishaw

 

Read, watch & listen

How can we create a companion species that will help us connect better to others… we’ve been looking at different designs inspired by nature and we’ve got a turtle-like design. A sand painting emerges – beautiful patterns. It leaves a trace of itself.

Director Adrienne Hart, speaking to the Financial Times

Prehension Blooms – Dance

Behind the scenes video documenting the making of Prehension Blooms featuring choreographer Adrienne Hart, composer Sebastian Reynolds and dance artists Travis Clausen-Knight and Fukiko Takase.

Prehension Blooms – Designing robots

Video by Tom Schumann showing the design of the robots featured in Neon Dance’s new work, Prehension Blooms.

Choose your workshop

Duration: 1 hour
Capacity: 10 people

In these workshops, learn more about the robotic technology used within the dance show Prehension Blooms.

Play with the ‘string-puppet robots’ that are similar to the ‘hoki-mon’ robots that feature in the production. You’ll have the opportunity to manipulate and animate the robot characters, learn about the internal motors in the robots and find out more about how they are programmed in Prehension Blooms.

In addition to the participatory activities, Neon Dance (the producing company) will present their tele-operated robot. The performing artists will be there to demonstrate and explain more about how they have incorporated these fascinating robotics into the dance production.

The venue

Bristol Beacon

Covid-19 Safety Measures

We’re committed to keeping you safe throughout your visit.

Please follow these safety measures when visiting Bristol Beacon.

Please do not attend this event if you have Coronavirus symptoms or have been asked to self-isolate.

Enjoy your visit safely

Strongly encouraged

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  Take a PCR/Lateral flow test

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  Card payment only, contactless preferred

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