Infra: Dance for camera

Dance Piece Overview

‘Infra’ is a contemporary ballet piece created by the British choreographer Wayne McGregor in 2008.
The dance is performed by the Royal Ballet Company, and includes a maximal number of 12 dancers.
The music for the dance piece was specifically composed by Max Richter.
Julian Opie designed the visual elements of ‘Infra’, including the digital moving images displayed on an LED screen.

This piece explores the theme of urban living, highlighting the loneliness and vulnerability experienced within a crowd.
The dance also contemplates human interactions, specifically how we connect and disconnect with others in modern society.

McGregor’s choreographic style is largely abstract and is known for its complex and athletic movement.
The dance features movements that display both strength and flexibility with fluid transitions from the floor to standing.
There’s contrast in movement with elements of suddenness and smoothness, representing the contrasting emotions within a metropolis.
Neo-classical movements and gestures are frequently used, alongside contact partner work.

Dancers make use of the entire stage during the performance, implying the vastness of a cityscape.
The dance can be characterized as non-proscenium with different parts of the stage being used for different sections of the dance.

The dance piece has very minimalist set design with an LED screen running along the top of the stage.
The LED screen displays moving silhouettes of pedestrians which enhances the urban theme of the piece.

The low-level lighting is used throughout the dance, creating a subdued, almost melancholy atmosphere.
Dancers are costumed in plain, everyday clothes which reflects the ordinary people they represent.

The music is a continuous, melancholic score by Richter, which adds to the mood of isolation within ‘Infra’.
The score includes everyday sounds like the electronic beeping of pedestrian crossings, which further enhances the urban life theme.

As choreography is mainly abstract, the audience is encouraged to interpret the meaning of the dance for themselves.
Despite this, the use of movement, digital visuals, sound and lighting all contribute to evoke a sense of urban existence and underline the emotional states of city dwellers.