DAMPF_LAB (Dance and Media Performance Fusions)

Final presentations, demonstrations and discussions on the theme of new forms of interactive performance based on the DAMPF_lab outcomes were organised in the framework of the international d.a.m.p.f. Festival 26 June to 9 July 2004 at Halle Kalk, Köln. The Festival was organised around the theme of dance, media and performance art, and in addition to the DAMPF_lab co-productions and research lab projects featured other work by Associated Partner François Raffinot/ sn@rc and Associate Researcher Matt Adams through his performance company Blast Theory.

On 4 July in the Foyer of the Halle Kalk, the artistic teams from KURORT, APPARITION and the REBOUND'S LAB project assembled to give lecture/ demonstrations of their work so far. A large audience of other artists, students and a general public assembled and were given short introductory talks by Prof. Marie-Luise Angerer from the Academy of Media Arts, Köln and Research Labs Coordinator Scott DeLahunta. Following this each of the artistic teams gave performance/ presentations and engaged in discussion about the three artistic productions. In addition, students from the "The Gift of Love" project set up with Academy of Media Arts were involved.

On 5 July in the facilities of tanz performance köln, a one day seminar involving the artistic teams and several Associate Researchers and special guests assembled for a final intensive discussion session related to key questions and issues that stimulated the initiation and development of the DAMPF_lab: How do emerging software practices influence performance and vice versa?; What is the experience of the performer on an interactive stage?; How are the relations between maker, performer and audience shifting?; What combination of approaches can best sustain the interactive experience?; What are the conditions for an effective interdisciplinary collaboration?

This event shifted the focus of these questions away from the DAMPF_lab co-productions and towards the work of the attending Associate Researchers who were each invited to present their work under the themes of: (1) software/ hardware tools for performance; (2) embodied interfaces/ immersive surfaces; (3) thresholds of perception/ user experience.