October 12, 2005

Guerilla Ballet Performances

Tomorrow (October 13th) at 9 PM GMT+1 in an undisclosed location in Belgrade, Serbia, Ballettikka Internettikka (Internet Ballet) will be broadcasting live over the Internet its latest guerrilla dance performance, "BEO Guerrillikka".

Tomorrow's performance by Igor Stromajer and Brane Zorman follows in the footsteps of pervious "invasions" of prestigious performance venues such as the Bolshoi Theater and La Scala. In a nutshell, Ballettikka Internettikka enters a venue uninvited and using portable wireless technologies broadcasts a live guerilla dance performances over the Internet of about 10 to 20 minutes in duration.

wireless mobile remote-controlled surveillance system used for Ballettikka Internettikka's La Scala performance

Here's how tomorrow's performance will use technology:

Artists will use low-tech mobile and wireless equipment for the invasion and live broadcasting (portable computers, mini digital camera, MP3 audio systems, mobile GPRS telephones etc). A laptop and MiniDV cam, together with Webcam32 (version 6.0) software will be used for broadcasting the video signal (running over Intima Virtual Base FTP server). Another laptop and MP3 player with online interface SHOUTcast (version 1.8.3/win32), will be used for live sound broadcasting (running over Beitthron FTP server). A local GSM mobile phone operator will be used for GPRS mobile internet connection.

On the BEO Guerrillikka performance page, you can watch the performance live and also read a run-down of the timeline of the logistical steps that will be followed to implement the "invasion."

To learn more about how this performance will work, you can visit pages for past performances such as "Illegallikka Robottikka," which was performed last year at La Scala. You'll find pictures, a technology overview and a video, although I can't figure out what the video is all about.

You can also read an article, "Claiming the Stage: Ballettikka Internettikka pt 2," that provides backgrounds about the artists and describes their performance at the Bolshoi Theater in 2002.