The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) proudly presents the second release in the K-Dance NOW series: a cinematic video production of Beyond Black by the esteemed Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, a fully translated performance that dives into the philosophical possibilities of choreography by Korea's first dance AI software, Madi, available to view for just 48 hours, beginning Sept. 25 at 7:00 p.m. EST.  

Beyond Black, choreographed by Shin Changho and incorporating elements created by Madi, explores the experimental possibilities of AI dance choreography under the assumption that if such technology continues to evolve and develop, it will eventually create art, once considered an exclusively human domain.  

Just as human bodies contain traces of the past, AI like Madi is also built on an enormous amount of data through machine learning. In this original work presented in a cinematic style rich with detailed lighting, narration, and creative camera work, human dancers and AI technology contrast yet coexist while undergoing a similar process of evolution.

Rather than the perfect logic or harmony one might expect from technology, Beyond Black portrays the surreal possibilities that result from this strange communion.  

Beyond Black premiered in Korea in June of 2020 online, and is presented here by the KCCDC as part of K-Dance NOW in a more widely accessible form that includes complete English subtitles for the work's narration and monologues. This video will remain viewable online until September 27 at 7:00 p.m. 

Watch it HERE.

About the Creators 

Shin Changho is a choreographer known for his powerful energy and experimental works that oscillate between the present and future. In Man-Made, for which he collaborated with the National Dance Company of Korea in 2018, he experimented with combining technology and dance using virtual reality. He later staged the work IT, dealing with the theme of AI, for the 40th Seoul Dance Festival. His new work Beyond Black is a result of his continued exploration of technology and the future itself. 

While studying at the School of Dance of Korea National University of Arts in 1999, Shin was selected to become a member of the Transitions Dance Company of the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in the United Kingdom. He was also one of the founding members of the LDP Dance Company in 2001 and worked as a regular member of the dance company Theater St. Gallen in Switzerland from 2005 to 2006.  

Shin's extensive experience working for national and international dance troupes has helped export his works abroad: his signature works No Comment and Platform were seen in Austria as part of the repertoire of the ballet company TLT Innsbruck, the first time works by a Korean choreographer became part of the fixed repertoire of a European professional ballet company. From 2012 to 2017, he was also invited as a guest choreographer by the company.  

Madi is Korea's first dance AI. In Korean, madi literally means a joint, the place where two bones meet, and signifies the connection between humans and AI. Media art group SLITSCOPE developed the AI specifically for Beyond Black in collaboration with choreographer Shin Changho.  

To create dance choreography, Madi analyzed movement data captured from eight dancers filmed against a chroma key background. After 256 minutes of learning, Madi had created new movements corresponding to approximately 1,000 minutes of performance. As the amount of machine learning input increased, the movements became more elaborate, leading directly to the creation of Beyond Black.

In addition, as dancers embody the choreography of Madi, the reality of this "dancing AI" can be seen in the performance as its output video is projected onto LED panels. 

The Korea National Contemporary Dance Company (KNCDC), established in 2010, is Korea's only nationally-funded contemporary dance company, led by Artistic Director Jeongho Nam. In collaboration with leading Korean and international artists, KNCDC aspires to produce and present works that reach out to audiences of all generations and sectors of society with a variety of themes that touch on history, society, and daily life in today's complicated world.

KNCDC strives to make contemporary dance fun rather than abstruse, with performances that audiences can intuitively understand, sympathize with, and enjoy. By protecting the rights of the artists, KNCDC also enables creators and performers to freely express their individuality within a healthy ecosystem of diverse values that also serves audiences.

The company hopes to reach a broader audience through universally appealing performances that expand the contemporary dance community. For more, visit the KNCDC website at https://kncdc.kr.  

About K-Dance NOW 

K-Dance NOW: Creative Trends in Korean Contemporary Dance is a new limited-term virtual performing arts series that explores recent trends and techniques in Korea's contemporary dance scene through exclusive recorded performances by the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company presented in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C.

With new content released monthly for the remainder of 2020, this short term program introduces exceptional Korean contemporary dance works that transcend borders and contribute to greater cross-cultural understanding. At a time when many live venues remain empty, K-Dance NOW will allow creators to communicate on an intimate level with all those interested in dance in the DC region and beyond.

See the full schedule below. 

August 28 - 30  | Traces of Black Sand 

September 25 - 27  | Beyond Black 

October 30 - November 1  | Og 

November 27 - 29  | This is Not a Game