“Biped”: a dance with virtual and company dancers. 1

Merce Cunningham´s “Biped” is a new and unique modern dance. The choreography integrates computer-captured virtual dance movement so directly and naturally as to root the entire piece in today´s time and space. The animations derive from a complex process, beginning with computerized motion-capture sessions. “Biped” reveals an openness and curiosity applied to computer technology that makes us anticipate new possibilities rather than honor the past. This is a dance conceived entirely for performance as much within a computer as on stage, yet executed without sacrificing any of the human emotion and movement that makes dance survive as a fine-art form