European dance production explores power struggles in digital era

A dance theater work exploring power dynamics and the complexities of the digital age through innovative multimedia staging made its Shanghai debut on Saturday.

Titled, "Shoot the Cameraman", the show combines digital technology with modern dance. It was performed at Shanghai's 1862 Theater and was produced by the Luxembourgian dance company AWA (As We Are), which aims to depict modern societal issues through choreography and new technologies.

The multimedia performance features two dancers and two camera operators who are also part of the live choreography. Their movements and camerawork are projected in real-time onto a big screen hanging at the back of the stage, creating a multidimensional, cinematic experience for the audience.

According to co-director Baptiste Hilbert, the narrative explores the evolving dynamics between men and women as their relationships change, as well as the escalating power struggles and conflicts between them and the environment, likening it to "an intense game of power growing up in between the different characters, but also with the camera".

What sets "Shoot the Cameraman" apart is how the camera operators transcend being mere observers, at times even seizing the spotlight as the choreography depicts the intricate interplay between humans and the digital realm.

"It leads to a huge, messy finale as it confronts us with this world's exponentially increasing digitalization," Hilbert explained.