TRANSHUMANIST DANCE
F. Ferrando / J. Boilen 2014
What happens when a dancer who was cryopreserved, wakes up 150 years later?
What happens when the same avatar who was created to keep her memory alive,
has developed her own personality in the meanwhile?
In this game of mirrors, past and future identities dance together,
to make the audience reflect about who we are and what we are becoming.
What happens when the same avatar who was created to keep her memory alive,
has developed her own personality in the meanwhile?
In this game of mirrors, past and future identities dance together,
to make the audience reflect about who we are and what we are becoming.
LIVE PERFORMANCES
Transhumanist Dance was featured in various international art festivals (2014-2015).
SCRIPT
Photo by Adam Jason
ACT I
Scene 1
A dancer ("PHYsical" = "PHY") is sleeping on the ground.
An avatar ("DIGital" = "DIG") who looks just like her, is watching her from the screen.
The only difference is that PHY is wearing a silver jacket.
Scene 2
PHY wakes up.
DIG
Welcome back: you made it!
PHY
Thanks.. Where am I?
DIG
In the future! You were cryonized one hundred and fifty years ago.
Just last week a treatment for your condition was discovered.
Doctors were finally able to heal you and bring you back to life.
PHY
So, who are You?
DIG
I am You.
PHY
What.. what do you mean?
DIG
I am the avatar who kept your memory alive until you were brought back to life.
PHY
Really?
DIG
Yeah. You were worried to wake up without remembering who you are.
So.. do you have any questions for me?
PHY
Not yet..
DIG
Well, I have one for you.
PHY
What?
DIG
You know, after so long I have become my own thing.
But there is something in my self that I can’t explain: I looove dancing..
I would like to know from you: why do you like to dance?
PHY
Why do I like to dance?
ECHOES
(confused)
Scene 3
Rap music busts out (Maitreya One "The Hip Hop State").
PHY starts dancing looking at the audience.
DIG is dancing as well the same style as PHY
(from "Gangsta Bellydance, see performance in Youtube).
Scene 4
PHY leaves the stage.
PHY "enters" in the empty screen.
PHY looks so excited to meet DIG and vice versa.
PHY
Your dance was awesome! Where did you go?
DIG
Hey babe, in the digital world you can be anywhere in a blink of an eye..
DIG+PHY
Yeah!
They give each other five.
DIG
Thanks so much! Now I know why I like to dance!
PHY
Thank You! Now I know why I wanted to live again!
DIG
I guess it’s cool out there... huh?
PHY
Where?
DIG
The Physical world...
PHY
Do you want to try?
DIG
Really?
PHY
Of course!
You have been waiting in the digital world for 150 years: it’s your time to shine!
Phy starts taking the jacket off.
DIG
Oh my Goddess!
PHY
(offering her silver jacket)
Take it, you will need it. The physical world is not made out of light..
It gets cold out there.. and lonely..
DIG
Thanks, I am so excited!
PHY
Me too, living in the light..
Scene 5
Music slowly comes in (Queen "I want to live forever").
DIG comes out from the backstage with the silver jacket.
DIG is out in the physical world.
Rap music busts out (Maitreya One "The Hip Hop State").
DIG + PHY are dancing wildly.
Scene 6
DIG now looks very tired and starts slowing down.
Music turns down.
PHY
(smiling)
Hey sista, keep it real out there!
DIG
(exausted)
Yo, I am not used to a physical body.. this is exhausting!
Now I understand why you slept for 150 years.. I need a nap!
DIG falls on the ground asleep, under the silver cover, exactly like the beginning.
Music turns up again + Credits
THE END
BLACKOUT (LIGHTS) - APPLAUSE - LIGHTS AGAIN
Credits
An idea of
F. Ferrando / J. Boilen
Video
Julian Boilen
Script & Dance
F. Ferrando
Original Music
Maitreya One
Additional Footage
Colin Marchon, Danilo Monte
Music
"The Hip Hop State" Maitreya One
"Who Wants To Live Forever" Queen
Voice Over
F. Ferrando, Ray Kurzweil
Special Thanks
Bob Boilen
The New York Posthuman Research Group
The Theatrical Bellydance Conference
Filmed at
The Golden Oasis, Ridgewood, NY
Creative Commons
CC BY NC 2014
TECHNICAL INFO
Name/Title of piece
Transhumanist Bellydance
Number of dancers
1
Music/Time
06:08
Enter/Placed
On stage, under a veil
Exit/Pose
On stage, under a veil
Props/Need SM assistance
Maybe need SM assistance.
The physical performer will enter the backstage once,
take the jacket off and come out to the stage again.
Mood:
White, Cold, Futuristic
Lights
Light cue 1
FADE IN
count: 02:55
Light cue 2
BLACKOUT
count: 04:04
Light cue 3
BUMP
count: 04:27
Light cue 4
FADE OUT
count: 06:01