Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada collaborates on ground-breaking “smart set”

February 4th, 2009

Moncton, NB CANADA: Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada CEO Susan Chalmers-Gauvin announced today that Company Artistic Director Igor Dobrovolskiy will participate in a collaborative “smart” textile project which could revolutionize theatre set construction.

Led by Professor Robin Muller, Chair of NSCAD University's Division of Craft and Dr. Sarah Bonnemaison of Dalhousie University's School of Architecture, this collaborative project will develop "smart" textiles for architectural applications. ACOA's Atlantic Innovation Fund has committed over $1 million toward the three-year project with an estimated total project cost of $1.4 million. A new research centre, @lab situated next to the NSCAD Port Campus was recently completed and will house the project.

“This is a landmark initiative in theatrical production,” said Ms. Chalmers-Gauvin. “We see opportunities and challenges which could enhance our productions and significantly reduce the costs associated with shipping our sets across the country and around the world,” she continued.

The project will construct textiles, interwoven with lights, sensors and actuators which will be responsive to sound, movement, sunlight and touch. These are being developed as prototypes for products which include curtains, free standing walls, theatrical backdrops, and hung ceilings for tensile roofs.

Mr. Dobrovolskiy will be involved in the third phase of the project which commences soon. He will work with Professor Muller and Dr. Bonnemaison to develop parameters for constructing a stage set which changes throughout a performance. Mr. Dobrovolksiy explained that a number of ideas are being explored including lighting and visuals designed to change in reaction to the dancers’ movements and the sounds of their feet.

“The Company is very excited about the possibilities and opportunities that this project could create for touring and performance,” he said. “This will be a collaborative endeavour which will also involve our lighting, set and costume designers,” he continued.

Both Mr. Dobrovolskiy and Ms. Chalmers-Gauvin plan to meet with Professor Muller and Dr. Bonnemaison when the Company launches its cross-country tour of DON JUAN on February 5, 2008 in Halifax at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium.

For a list of Canadian stops and a quick look at the production visit: atlanticballet.ca

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