daidance

Daidance is a form of contemporary dance that emphasizes improvisation, spatial awareness, and the integration of digital media with live performance. It is practiced in studios, galleries, and public spaces and is often presented as part of interdisciplinary performances.

The term daidance is a modern coinage created by early practitioners; no single etymology is widely agreed upon. The name is used primarily within practitioner communities rather than in mainstream dance histories.

Daidance emphasizes long, continuous sequences with movement drawn from contemporary dance, improvisation, floor work, and contact improvisation. Many performances incorporate technology such as motion sensors, projection, reactive sound, or live coding, with performers responding to sensor output or audience cues.

The practice emerged in the 2010s among experimental dance groups in urban centers and spread through collectives and residencies exploring dance with digital media.

Critics have described daidance as immersive and participatory, though some note that technology can create accessibility challenges or require substantial setup.

See also: Contemporary dance; Digital performance; Interactive art.