Need a temporary escape from the real world? Why not try the virtual reality experience (VR) at the National Library Board’s PRESSPLAY arts festival tomorrow (Saturday, February 3)?
Inspired by the timeless optimism of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow,' the 10-minute immersive VR experience explores the theme of happiness through dance and music. Participants will navigate an enchanted garden and encounter the Happiness Fairy who gifts them hope.
Designed for a single participant at a time, the VR experience will be available in the Possibility and Imagination Room on Level 5 of the National Library Building from 10 am to 5 pm. Tickets are free, but you are encouraged to reserve your slot here.
This VR experience is the result of the collaboration between local creative-tech start-up Avventura and the choreographer, dancer, and stage director from Maya Dance Theatre. They worked together to refine the avatar's movements, design costumes within the technical constraints, and craft the entire virtual environment – to achieve a harmonious blend of aesthetics and functional, interactive extended reality inputs.
Avventura also worked closely with the music composer to ensure a seamless and immersive experience for the audience. The contribution of the media designer, responsible for the motion capture of the dancer's avatar, played a pivotal role in enhancing the overall production quality.
Besides Maya Dance Theatre, Avventura also worked with other performing arts groups in Singapore for the DanceXR showcase, which is part of PRESSPLAY and supported by the National Arts Council and the National Library Board.
