Cinedans VR BeamLab 2019

Concept and brief 2019
Cinedans LAB 2019 unites a selected group of creators, who will center their work and research around the question: What is the value of VR in relation to dance and the moving image? In the weekend the workshop results are be open for public viewing and interaction, at The Playground in A-Lab Amsterdam.

Cinedans VR Lab 2019 participants are Sacha Polak (film director), Timo Geschwill (video artist), Felix van Cleeff (film director) and Fabienne Vegt (dance dramaturge), Marjolein Vogels (dancer/choreographer) and Carlos Vasquez (film director).

Cinedans LAB is the education and research division of Cinedans. With its LAB activities, the platform supports beginning and established makers to deepen the dance film as a genre and to stimulate it.
This collaboration with BeamLab facilitates research into the latest developments of new media, innovative presentation techniques and VR's physical components in relation to performance and dance.

Concept and brief 2018
The first Cinedans VR BeamLab, March 2018 was an Open Lab were participants explored the moving body interacting with the latest audio-visual technologies. Cinedans selected 4 teams of dancers, choreographers, programmers and other participants from various backgrounds. Creatives who incorporate Virtual Reality in their work. This year’s selected participants: Keren Rosenberg & Tony Sacharias, Enrico Meijer, Jonne Covers, Sergi van Ravenswaay and Steye Hallema and Fred Rodrigues & Setareh Fatehi, Carlos Vasquez and Roy Gerritsen. The results and processes of the Open Lab were presented at Cinema 2 EYE Filmmuseum at the Dancing VR 2018 event. The participants’ presentations were alternated with specialist talks by Robin Noorda, and Lenno Verhoog and Jilt van Moorst, Zeynep Gündüz and Keez Duyves.

 
Technical description 
A three day Open Lab at the studios of Dansmakers Amsterdam with flexible audio-visual set-ups using Kinect sensors and projectors, multi projection set-ups with audio and camera support and feedback monitors, a Kinect set-up with webcam feeds and VR glasses. Each team operated its’ own set up. 

How did BeamLab support? 
During Cinedans VR BeamLab, BeamLab facilitated in concept-development and advice for suitable equipment for each research topic. Our technical specialists were available for operation and set-up adjustments. Research examples during this Open Lab: body simulations of dancers to improve movement in games, recording movement by point clouds. Kinect motion capture to generate visuals and sound. Integrating live camera feeds and movement in VR experience. 

Partners 
Cinedans, EYE Filmmuseum, BeamSystems, Dansmakers Amsterdam.