VR Ballet with Robot

The Staatstheater Augsburg is continuing its VR strategy: this time an industrial robot is dancing with the Augsburg ballet company.

The State Theatre Augsburg has found ways to reach its audience even during lockdowns due to the pandemic, as we reported last year. The VR service for culture enthusiasts is really cool: If you don't have VR glasses, you can simply rent a headset and theatre piece anywhere in Germany. by post to your home come. To this end, the theatre is working with the Munich-based company Inflight VR together.

If you already have VR glasses at home, you can download the plays from the state theatre's website using a pay-per-view method. The various theatre and ballet productions that are already available can be found on the website. And now there's another production.

Kinesphere: Man dances with machine

The Augsburg ballet company has come up with something special for the new VR production: An industrial robot weighing 533 kg dances along. In the choreography called "kinesphere" (the kinesphere refers to the direct, personal environment of humans) by ballet director Ricardo Fernando, the focus is on the interaction between man and machine.

The robot is programmed by creative coder Markus Schubert. It is intended to form the interface between art and technology. The music comes from producer and sound artist Lilijan Waworka.

Ballet in the factory

The VR ballet will be recorded in the so-called Reinigerhaus on the site of the Augsburg gasworks using a 360-degree camera. The factory is not normally open to the public and therefore offers the ideal setting, according to the State Theatre. Filming will start at the beginning of May.

The world premiere of "kinesphere" is planned for this season. Ballet fans can then watch the performance in the comfort of their own homes.

Offer especially for school classes

The VR experience is particularly aimed at school classes. Schools can order VR glasses for all pupils in a class via the theatre so that they can embark on a virtual journey to the theatre.

Source: Mixed / Sonntagsblatt