(2002) July 17 Brazil  Working title Sao Paulo: Hekuras – The River Runs Deep* (later title) Hekurus – Spirits of the Rainforest. Tania Fraga, Brazilian technology (computer) artist, created amazing original virtual worlds,// based on “Brazilian rainforests/river/life, that became projected environments/installations on stage for the dances – Hekuras – Spirits of the Rainforest (Brazil, 2002) and Hekuras – Spirits of the Rainforest (GW, 2010) and Rainforest Awakens (USA and Brazil, Broadcast online, 2020).  *See Hi-8 casette, dub from original 8mm video

The virtual worlds explore images related to Brazilian Rainforest – under the earth (worms),  virtual river (Negra with pink dolphins), and later become helicopter-like trees, and other images conceived of by Tania Fraga, Brazil artist.  The computer designed virtual worlds by Tania Fraga are intense in color, stunning in the diversity of motion, playful with intrigue, and create magical realms in space. This was the first experiment that led to other projects as the interactive technology (wireless mouse, other) developed.

In Brazil, the virtual worlds are interactive in real-time with the dancers by the use of a recently available wireless mouse.  Professional Brazililan dancers manipulate the virtual worlds as they are performing/dancing or when they are standing in the wings. Tania Fraga, São Paulo, Brazil, created the virtual worlds thats are projected into the stage space (screen of fabric upstage).  The wireless mouse manipulates these spectacular/colorful images, symbols from the Brazil Rainforest.

The project was originally commissioned for professional dancers in Brazil to participate in a Congress in Africa, but the international program was cancelled so Hekuras in Brazil had an informal presentation in São Paulo at the Universidad Anhembi Morumbi. Eight years later Hekuras was restaged in the United States – simplified  and shortened from the original created by Maida with Brazilian professional performers.

Tania Fraga, Computer Art, São Paulo Brazil
Cyberworlds in Progress – Hekarus Project

Copyright, Tania Fraga