FLOOD

Concept

This work explores the relationship between human movement and elemental forces through the metaphor of water. By creating a system where the dancers interact with simulated fluid dynamics projected onto their performance surface, FLOOD examines our complex relationship with nature—how we navigate, resist, and ultimately surrender to forces larger than ourselves. The vertical dance element adds a crucial dimension to this exploration, allowing performers to embody the weightlessness and freedom associated with aquatic movement.

The performance highlights the tension between control and surrender. Just as water can be both contained and uncontainable, the dancers demonstrate both mastery over gravity through their technical skill and submission to it through moments of release and flow. The projections amplify this duality, sometimes appearing to respond to the dancers' movements and other times seeming to drive them, creating a visual dialogue that mirrors our own relationship with natural systems.

The timing of the work's online premiere on Earth Day 2020, during the early stages of the global pandemic, added unexpected resonance to its themes of vulnerability and resilience in the face of overwhelming forces. What began as an artistic exploration of water became a broader meditation on our place within ecosystems and our responsibility toward them.

Technical Details

I developed a custom software system in Unity that served as the foundation for the visual elements, employing MPM (Material Point Method) fluid simulation to create the dynamic projections. This approach allowed for the creation of diverse water-inspired visuals—from realistic fluid dynamics to stylized representations of fish schools and zero-gravity water particles.

The visual system was deeply integrated with the musical score by Ben Juodvalkis, with audio analysis driving key parameters of the fluid simulation. By analyzing frequency responses for each frame, the system created a mathematical bridge between sound and visual elements, where rhythmic patterns and tonal qualities found expression in the movement and behavior of the projected elements.

The technical implementation required careful consideration of the projection surface—the facade of The Momentary building—ensuring that the visuals remained clear and impactful despite the architectural features and the movements of the dancers across the projection area. The system needed to maintain visual coherence while accommodating both the vertical orientation of the performance and the physical interruptions created by the dancers' bodies moving through the light.

Throughout the performance, the visual language morphs between several water-inspired states: turbulent fluid currents, schools of fish moving in unison, water particles suspended in zero gravity, and an infinite waterfall with fish swimming against the current. These transitions mirror the choreographic progression and musical development, creating a cohesive narrative arc that explores different facets of water as both metaphor and physical phenomenon.

Collaboration

FLOOD represents a genuine interdisciplinary collaboration where each element—choreography, music, and visuals—influenced the others throughout the development process. Conceived by Melecio Estrella of BANDALOOP, the project brought together creative technologist Osman Koç and composer Ben Juodvalkis to explore different properties of water through their respective mediums. Together, we established a framework where each section of the performance would highlight different aspects of water as a natural force, creating a cohesive artistic experience.

The process involved continuous dialogue between artistic languages: how a musical motif might translate into both a movement phrase and a visual pattern, or how a choreographic idea might inspire both sonic textures and projection behaviors. Rather than treating the projections as mere backdrop, we approached them as an active participant in the performance—a digital environment that both frames and responds to the physical movements of the dancers.

Credits

• Concept and Choreography: Melecio Estrella / BANDALOOP

• Visual Design and Implementation: Osman Koç

• Choreography: Melecio Estrella / BANDALOOP

• Music: Ben Juodvalkis

• Performers: BANDALOOP

• Venue: The Momentary, Bentonville, Arkansas

• Documentation: Yoram Savion, YAK Films

FLOOD was commissioned by The Momentary for their grand opening festival in February 2020. The work premiered online on Earth Day 2020 as a response to the global pandemic and ongoing climate crisis, inviting viewers to consider their relationship with natural systems and our collective responsibility toward planetary health.