2025
“Simbolica-mente” is a dance theater performance that stages the inner journey of the self through myths, symbols, and the challenges of the unconscious. Inspired by the theory of the Hero’s Journey, it takes the audience on a three-act journey: the Call to Awakening, the Initiation into the world of symbols, and the Return with a new awareness. The protagonist faces fragmentation, inner dialogues, trials, and transformations, exploring the struggle between ego, potential, and authenticity. The work invites us to awaken a knowledge already present within us, challenging identification with imposed roles and calling us to search for a deeper and more integrated reality. No answers are offered, but rather a fertile stimulus to question our own nature, recognizing the value hidden behind the masks and symbols that accompany us.
The performance is powered by a custom-built TouchDesigner environment acting as a centralized server. The system manages a synchronized 4-output setup: 3 displays handling pre-rendered narrative content and one main projection dedicated to real-time augmentation.
The core technical achievement is the Dynamic AI Body Mapping. Using a TOF Camera, the system captures the performer’s volumetric data and movement in real-time. This feed is processed through a StreamDiffusion pipeline, which regenerates the dancer’s appearance based on specific prompts triggered by the timeline.
Unlike traditional screenings, the AI-generated texture is projected back onto the moving body with precise calibration. This creates a digital second skin that adheres to the performer. The show runs on a hybrid timeline: while the narrative cues are time-coded to the music, the visual generation remains live and reactive to the dancer’s unique expression.