SHENZHEN-MADE dance drama “AI in Love,” which focuses on emotional interactions between humankind and artificial intelligence (AI), was staged at National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing over the past weekend.

On Friday night, the show received a seven-minute curtain call and applause. Audience members were immersed in the futuristic world and were impressed by the emotion and connection between humans and robots portrayed in the dance. Many expressed that the dance drama resonated with the urban atmosphere and the pioneering spirit of Shenzhen.

The dance drama is presented by the Publicity Department of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the CPC and the Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality. It was co-produced by Poly Performing Arts Co. Ltd., Jiangsu Performing Arts Group Co. Ltd., Shenzhen Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the publicity departments of Luohu District Committee of the CPC and Bao’an District Committee of the CPC, and executive-produced by Shenzhen Theater.

Directed by Tong Ruirui, a top director and choreographer of the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater (CNODDT), “AI in Love” centers on Xiaohai, a boy who loses his mother in an accident. In a state of loneliness, he forms a bond with a AI robot designed to adapt and evolve like a human being. As Xiaohai becomes more and more attached to his robot “mother,” the AI ponders leaving him. This unconventional family story explores the nature of love and the ways that technology isolates and connects us all.

Featuring technological elements such as robots and the naked-eye 3D LED display, the show incorporates street dances, electronic music, futuristic costumes and choreography. Tong said she hopes to broaden the boundaries of dance drama by exploring unknown areas, tapping the potential of humanity and touching upon infinite art with limited life. Artists’ exploration of the unknown is also a simulation of human imagination and creativity for the future, she added.

As China’s first AI-themed dance drama, “AI in Love” focuses on the vigorous development of Shenzhen’s AI industry. “I’m fascinated about the AI subject and very curious to see how Shenzhen, being a high-tech city, will tell this story in a dance drama,” said Zhang Guangzhuo, a student from Beihang University, before watching the show.

With playwright Luo Huaizhen and composer Guo Sida, as well as costume, lighting, multimedia, stage art and visual designers from CNODDT, the National Theater of China, Ballet of China and the Guangdong Song and Dance Ensemble, “AI in Love” premiered at the Bay Opera of Shenzhen in late March and then toured the cities of Foshan, Nanjing, Chongqing, Ganzhou, Taizhou and Zhangjiagang. In June, it was staged in the finals of the 13th Lotus Award Competition, one of the highest awards in Chinese dance.

According to stage art designer Qin Liyun, they use computer coding to control the lights on stage and sometimes pixel lighting also gives the theater a cool atmosphere. Costume designer Yang Donglin said he chose shiny metallic fabrics for the costumes to make the futuristic world look flowing and alien on the stage.

“Dancing in ‘AI in Love’ is a new experience for me because I have to discard my muscle memory from my usual dancing and need to dance like a robot to express the character’s feeling, which is a big challenge,” said Qin Xi, who plays the robot in the show.   (SD News)