Projects
Explorative learning journey through Immersive Arts technologies
Explorative learning journey through Immersive Arts technologies
I aim to redefine movement through VR 360 dance films, immersing spectators in a dancer’s energy and letting them connect each movement with haptic feedback.
At the heart of this project is my desire to redefine audience engagement and sensory experience in contemporary dance through the power of VR/MR technologies. While dance is an inherently immersive experience for the performer, the audience often remains passive. I aim to bridge this gap, using VR 360 dance films and haptic feedback to transform how spectators connect with movement.
By creating a virtual, site-specific world, I want to invite viewers to become active participants rather than passive observers. Through immersive VR environments, they will not just watch dance—they will feel it. Haptic feedback will allow them to experience movement as physical sensations, deepening their connection to the performer and making the energy of dance tangible.
This fusion of technology and artistry offers an entirely new way of experiencing dance. By experimenting with virtual dancers and embodied landscapes, I seek to explore how VR/MR can enhance the experiential connection between performer and audience. How might this medium allow viewers to emotionally and physically engage with dance on a deeper level? What new dimensions of movement and perception can it unlock?
By harnessing the power of VR, I aim to break traditional boundaries of performance, offering audiences a fresh, interactive, and sensory-driven perspective on contemporary dance. This project is a step toward redefining how we experience movement—one where the viewer is no longer separate from the performance but truly inside.
Explore
£5,000
Aims of the Project
This project aims to redefine audience engagement in contemporary dance through VR 360 filmmaking, Mixed Reality, and motion capture technology. With this funding, I will create immersive dance films that allow spectators to experience movement in a way that deepens their connection to the performer and transforms how dance is perceived.
Traditional dance performances place the audience at a distance, limiting engagement. My goal is to break these boundaries by developing a virtual, site-specific world where viewers become active participants rather than passive spectators. Through VR headsets, audiences will be fully immersed in the performance, engaging with movement in a way that feels immediate and intimate.
Funding will enable me to purchase essential VR equipment, including a high-resolution 360° camera, a VR headset, and motion capture tools to accurately track and translate dance into the virtual space. I will also explore specialized software for VR filmmaking, spatial audio, and interactive movement mapping, allowing for innovative experimentation with how dance can be experienced digitally. Additionally, I hope to make this technology accessible to young people offering them a new way to engage with contemporary dance.
Ultimately, this project will push the boundaries of movement and technology, creating an innovative, multi-sensory experience that transforms how audiences connect with dance.
Meet the artists
Debbie Mackenzie
Lead artist
she/her
I am a professionally trained contemporary dancer based in Aberlour, Scotland, with 20+ years in community arts and education. My career spans dance, teaching, choreography, and creative practice, working with professionals and beginners alike.
Recently, I’ve focused on producing arts experiences for young people, bringing innovative, high-quality work to my community. Now, I’m exploring virtual reality dance films, aiming to create immersive works that deepen the connection between performer and viewer.
This new chapter excites me, blending technology and movement to transform how audiences experience dance.
