Blog 6 - Wayne McGregors 'Atomos'

Atomos, 2013, Studio Wayne McGregor

We recently took some time to watch a video on Wayne McGregors process when creating ‘Atomos’ in 2013. The process involved many different parties. Wayne McGregor himself, dancers from his company, and Studio XO.

This whole production managed to connect the dance world with technology seamlessly, and it is truly astonishing how everything came together. Sensors were used to gather the data needed (ie the dancers' biometrics), and with everything they gathered, XO designed digital skins inspired by the dancers' emotional states. Furthermore, costumes were designed, and so were props that were used in the creative process, but not during the actual performance.

Usually, dancers rely mostly on the movement they create, but through this process, the costumes were just as important. Both elements combined created an even more captivating experience for the audience, as they helped elevate each other.

Atomos, 2013, Studio Wayne McGregor

The dancers used 3D glasses while improvising, so the image they had in front of them looked alive and fluid just like it is when shrunk back to its normal size, and through many alterations, the end result was slowly created.

McGregor continued to work around the idea of creating something out anything for this choreographic performance. He focused on taking invisible concepts that appear in the body, structures in the microcosm that can’t be seen by the naked eye, and zoomed in to such an extent, making in possible to have a visible image he could work with.

He brings up the question of what a human being is, and dives deep literally and figuratively, and articulates through the bodies of his company dancers the feelings and shifts that they personally go through without even being aware of it sometimes.

Atomos, 2013, Studio Wayne McGregor

McGregor gave them many instructions during the process, so even though it might seem like they only had a visual stimulus, they had many guidelines that helped them stick to a certain structure.

I personally think that the whole idea was very well thought out and I believe that it paid off. Taking such an abstract concept and turning it into something that is very much alive and real is one of the reasons why I admire Wayne McGregor. The way he strings these ideas together, while still being extremely cooperative truly amazes me.

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Atomos, 2013, Studio Wayne McGregor, Available at: Atomos - Studio Wayne McGregor

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