‘Innovations’ by Ballet Wichita

During the first week of April, Wichitans will have an opportunity to see a blend of contemporary dance and the latest in AI artistic expression, all at the B-29 Doc Hangar with live music by the Fairmount String Trio.

“It’s very exciting,” says Sandy Wolter, executive director of Ballet Wichita. “This is a perfect evolution and example of how we’re keeping the traditional elements of ballet and bringing them into the current era. People have been wanting to see more contemporary dance, and this is a perfect opportunity to showcase that.”

A Palette of Light and Motion

Doc Hangar features an expansive LED screen behind the stage, the canvas where tech maestro John Harrison and his team will paint evocative motion graphics to frame the dancers. Harrison is a musician, programmer and celebrated new media artist who worked with student programmers from the motion tracking studio at WSU’s Shocker Studios, led by director Justin Rorabaugh.

“What's happening at Shocker Studios really is impressive,” says Harrison. “They are so on fire; the creative conversations are taking place at such a high level.”

Harrison and the tech team are enthusiastic about “what technology can offer in terms of productivity for artists and for dancers.” The team is using some of the same visual enhancements used by the gaming industry, including “particle effects or fluid dynamics” to enhance the expressivity of the dancers. 

A Female Icarus

Working with all of this local talent is Ballet Wichita guest choreographer Logan Pachciarz, co-artistic director of Moving Arts Kansas City and Cincinnati. He is marshaling all the visual, musical and technical expression in service of a greater story — a new contemporary work in five movements set to the Dohnányi Serenade, performed live by the Fairmount String Trio. The production, “Innovations,” is a retelling of the classical myth of Icarus with a female protagonist. 

Pachciarz imagines her as “an angelic celestial being” who experiments with taking her wings on and off and interacting with those around her. “I was concerned with the idea of being on the edge of hubris, and pulling back to really enjoy and learn from what you see.”

The choreographer views the use of AI in the B-29 Doc Hangar as “creating an advanced working space for dancers and for the audience. The technical aspects open a whole new door into theatrical performance and the performing arts. I think it really pushes forth a narrative of where dance is going in the future.”

Ballet Wichita takes this leap into the future from a place of solid grounding in the past: This year they’re celebrating their 50th anniversary. 

“Ballet Wichita was founded to provide every community member access to dance performance and education,” says Wolter. “We look forward to showcasing the skills of local dancers and artists with these kinds of leading-edge productions in upcoming decades, and continuing to be an innovator for ballet in the state of Kansas.”