SURGE VR AT DERBY FESTÉ
Last weekend, Derby Festé returned for its 17th year, bringing outdoor dance, music, art and theatre to different venues: a full-on sensory adventure designed to spark imaginations and stir souls.
This year at Derby Festé, audiences stepped into the future of dance with us through SURGE VR: a cutting-edge immersive experience we were thrilled to bring to the festival.
“So cool. Never experienced anything like that before!”
Far from a traditional performance, SURGE VR invites participants to interact, play and move in a digital world where choreography comes alive in new dimensions. Wearing a VR headset, each guest entered a safe open space that transformed into an expansive virtual landscape. Here, they could move physically and digitally, exploring dance in ways that defied the senses.
“It was amazing, I loved every part of it.”
With exclusive music from electronic artist Ital Tek and four unique VR ‘rooms’ to discover, participants found themselves surrounded by digital dancers, shifting shapes and interactive visuals. Some chose to walk, others danced – all experienced live performance in a way that felt both futuristic and deeply personal.
“It was fantastic. I especially loved the moving, dancing blocks! "
Developed in collaboration with artists, technologists and researchers at the University of Nottingham’s Mixed Reality Laboratory and Confetti Institute of Design and Technology, SURGE VR pushes the boundaries of how we experience performance. And at Derby Festé, it proved a hit with audiences of all ages – from curious first-timers to seasoned festival-goers.
“It’s like a whole other world!”
We loved seeing people’s reactions as they emerged from the headset: smiles, laughter, wide-eyed amazement. SURGE VR is more than just a performance: it’s a glimpse into the future of live art, where technology and creativity collide.
“That was insane. It was amazing!”
Thank you to Derby Festé for having us – we can’t wait to continue playing with the combined magic of virtual reality + dance!