How about dancing with a robot?
“When I was a little boy, my favorite cartoon was «Doraemon». It followed the adventures of a young Japanese boy, Nobita Nobi, and the eponymous robot cat, who was supposed to protect and help his friend. Apparently, I’ve been drawn to robots since childhood. Is it because they’re loyal? Or maybe because they’re selfless? Fortunately, my parents allowed me to choose a career in performing arts, which became the best way to fulfill my desires and release my pent-up emotions. I just had to find a way to dance with a robot.”
Huang Yi
Taiwanese dancer, choreographer, inventor, and filmmaker Huang Yi is a pioneer in the synthesis of art and robotics. In his work, he combines human movement with mechanical and multimedia elements, creating a dance form that responds to the flow of data, effectively transforming the performer into a moving element of technology.
A defining moment in Huang Yi’s career came with the performance “Huang Yi & Kuka,” where he harnessed—on an unprecedented scale—the capabilities of a KUKA industrial robot, made available to him through a special partnership. Huang Yi’s statement from the performance’s press materials—“Dancing with a robot is like looking at your face in the mirror… I think I’ve found the key to transferring human emotions to robots”—aptly captures his artistic fascination with robotics. The performance premiered twice, first with an excerpt in 2013 at the Ars Electronica festival in Linz, and second in its entirety in 2015 at the 3LD Art & Technology Center in New York City. It immediately became a cultural phenomenon and was presented in many places around the world, including Wrocław, as part of the European Capital of Culture celebrations.
The success of the performance “Huang Yi & Kuka” would not have been possible without the artist’s dreams and vision, which led to the founding of the dance company Huang Yi Studio +, which features both human and robotic performers. Over fifteen years of activity, the work has toured more than twenty countries and performed on various stages for more than one hundred times. Within Huang Yi Studio + projects, Huang Yi applies his technical expertise to develop audio description systems, actively promoting cultural accessibility. The company is also committed to supporting emerging artists, hoping that in the future, art—supported by technology—will continue to accompany people’s lives, providing mutual inspiration for growth.
The creative process behind Huang Yi’s work is particularly fascinating—he continuously explores new ways to merge art with technology. This process requires time for experimentation, gathering experience, and pushing the boundary of what has already been achieved. It also involves the audience, as Huang Yi shares each stage of the developing work with them. Every presentation shows the current results alongside an open dialogue, giving the audience the chance to express their emotions and opinions. This interaction is a crucial part of the performance, with individual feedback having the potential to reshape it. The final production typically emerges from this process in about two years.
The project “3 Elements” comprises segments from three parts—“Voices”, “Objects”, and “Puppet”—all integral to the ongoing creative process. The input of Wrocław audiences is not only welcome but essential to the development of the project, especially as the presentation of “3 Elements” to the Polish public will mark the first work in progress showing outside its home in Taiwan for Huang Yi Studio +.
About the Theatre:
Founded in 2010, Huang Yi Studio + is a collective of humans and robots. They have performed over a hundred shows across more than twenty countries worldwide. Beyond their theatrical work, Huang Yi Studio + applies its technological expertise to develop audio description systems, actively promoting cultural accessibility. The studio also supports emerging artists, guided by the belief that art, through technology, can accompany people in their daily lives while fostering mutual advancement.
About the Director:
Taiwanese dancer, choreographer, inventor, and video artist Huang Yi pioneers a unique collaboration between humans and robots. He blends human movement with mechanical and multimedia elements, creating a dance form that mimics the flow of data and transforms the performer into a living, dancing instrument.
From an early age, Huang was immersed in art. He spent his childhood in his parents’ studio, watching tango lessons and learning painting from his father. He has been an artist-in-residence at the National Theatre and Concert Hall, the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Taiwan.
Considered one of Asia’s most prolific choreographers, his breakthrough and award-winning work “Huang Yi & Kuka”, featuring dancers alongside an industrial robot programmed by Huang himself, opened the Ars Electronica festival in Austria and the TED conference in Vancouver. Since 2015, it has been shown worldwide.
