World-renowned media artist Daito Manabe joins forces with avant-garde dance collective ELEVENPLAY for +1+1+1+, a groundbreaking dance installation that fuses movement with cutting-edge technology. Using volumetric capture and real-time visuals, the dancers’ bodies are transformed into living digital presences beyond physical limits. This Asia premiere pushes the boundaries of stage performance, merging technology and art in bold new ways.

Premiered in February 2024 at Toyama’s Aubade Hall, +1+1+1+ is the latest collaboration between Japanese media artist Daito Manabe and the experimental dance company ELEVENPLAY, co-directed by choreographer MIKIKO.

The work explores the themes of time, structure, and repetition through advanced “volumetric capture” technology, where dancers’ movements are recorded in real time and mirrored by algorithm-generated visuals.

Featuring performers KAORI, SAYA, MAI, and SHOKO, the production transforms the stage into a space where body and image merge seamlessly.

Known for past innovations such as drone choreography and projection mapping in works like Phosphere and Shadow, Manabe and ELEVENPLAY once again challenge the limits of performance, using technology not as a tool but as an extension of human expression—turning dance into an immersive, data-driven presence that transcends physical boundaries.

Credits

• Artistic Direction・Music・Visual: Daito Manabe
• Artistic Direction・Choreography: MIKIKO (ELEVENPLAY)
• Planning・Production: ELEVENPLAY / Rhizomatiks / KAJIMOTO

Daito Manabe

Born in Tokyo, 1976, Daito Manabe is a world-renowned media artist, programmer, and designer whose work explores the intersection of body, technology, and perception. Founder of Rhizomatiks, he has directed large-scale projects such as the AR performance for the Rio 2016 Olympics closing ceremony and collaborated with artists including Ryuichi Sakamoto, Björk, and Perfume. His installations and performances have been presented at leading festivals worldwide, such as Sónar Barcelona. In recent years, Manabe has expanded into bio-art, exploring the boundaries between life, machine, and art.

MIKIKO (ELEVENPLAY)

As director and chief choreographer of the avant-garde dance company ELEVENPLAY, MIKIKO is acclaimed for blending innovative choreography with cutting-edge technology. She has created works for global artists such as Perfume, BABYMETAL, and Ringo Shiina, and her performances have been praised both in Japan and internationally. By merging reality with the virtual, she has pioneered a unique choreographic language that expands the possibilities of contemporary dance.

Rhizomatiks

Founded in 2006, Rhizomatiks is a Tokyo-based creative collective of artists, designers, and engineers dedicated to pushing the boundaries of technology and artistic expression. Known for experimental projects combining advanced R&D with performance, they have become leaders in tech-driven stage art, spanning media art, entertainment, and urban design. Their collaborations with ELEVENPLAY and Perfume have set new benchmarks in integrating choreography, projection, and interactive media.

• Stage & Dance