ANGEL VR @ Karlovac Dance Festival | Karlovac City Museum
Mon 29 June
• Morning: 10:00, 11:00, 12:00
• Evening: 18:00, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00
Tue 30 June
• Evening: 18:00, 19:00, 20:00
Important: Free entry. Max 5 people per session. Please arrive 10 minutes early.
Reservations: info@freedance.hr
ANGEL VR (29 & 30 June @ Karlovac City Museum)
Step into the heart of innovation with an award-winning virtual reality experience that blurs the boundaries between audience and dance. Enter the digital world of a "warrior angel" and experience a unique, interactive journey tailored just for you. Admission is free, but spaces are strictly limited!
ANGEL VR
CONCEPT, DIRECTOR, CHOREOGRAPHER & DANCER: Avatâra Ayuso
VR & MOTION CAPTURE ARTIST: Miyu Matsumoto
Based on the original solo ANGEL choreographed by Avatâra in 2018 for a traditional black box theather, Angel VR was created with three aimes: to increase the emotional engagement of audiences, to give their agency avoiding being a passive viewer and to explore its storytelling tools in virtual environments that could enhance the live performance experience.
ANGEL VR, a multi award-winning virtual reality experience, transports participants into the mesmerising realm of a sophisticated warrior “angel.” This immersive encounter unfolds between “angel” and each single audience member. The interaction element within Angel VR is personalised, responding to the unique choices made by each audience member. This distinctive aspect ensures a one-of-a-kind journey tailored to each participant, making Angel VR an unforgettable experience.
This immersive work is brought to life through cutting-edge motion caption technology as Optitrack, alongside Unreal, Maya, Motion Builder, and Marvelous Designer, with every move meticulously choreographed and performed by the award-winning choreographer Avatâra Ayuso. Enhanced with 3D sound for maximum immersion, ANGEL VR elevates the artistic experience, promising an intimate connection like no other.
Join us for an unparalleled blend of technology and artistry, where your senses will be awakened.
Optimised for the Meta Quest 3 headset, ANGEL VR is suitable for audiences aged 12+. It is produced by AVA DANCE COMPANY in collaboration with Rose Bruford College and independent VR developers, and with the generous support of Arts Council England.
In 2026 it received the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding through Rose Bruford College. The project will now make an accessible and marketable VR experience for disabled users, addressing the technological challenge of creating an inclusive, high-quality VR experience that centres their needs.
CONCEPT, DIRECTOR, CHOREOGRAPHER & DANCER
Avatâra Ayuso
VR & MOTION CAPTURE ARTIST
Miyu Matsumoto
TECHNICAL MANAGER & VR DEVELOPER
Enrique Muñoz
VR DEVELOPER AND ADVISOR
Dave Pritchard (Dual Perceptions Games)
VR DRAMATURGE
Dr Rosa Cisneros
3D ARTIST
Enkhar P. Blanco (Dual Perceptions Games)
VR PRODUCTION CONSULTANT
Paul Long
VR POSTPRODUCTION CONSULTANT
Samuel Lawrence
VR DEVELOPER (STUDENT)
Kyle Ruta
SOUND SUPPORT (STUDENTS)
Callum Mitchell & Craig Shield
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT
Kirsty Hillyer
CHOREOGRAPHIC DRAMATURG
Donald Hutera
FENCING COACH
Graham Watts
SWORD DANCE COACH
Jialong Ma
ACCESSIBILITY CONSULTANT
Dan Edge
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Sukan Passos
AVATÂRA AYUSO is an award winning choreographer filmmaker, based in the UK, director of AVA DANCE COMPANY, a cultural leader, curator and activist in the dance world.
She is also the Founder and Director of the charity AWA DANCE (Advancing Women’s Aspirations with Dance). She trained in Classical Ballet, Argentine Tango and Contemporary dance across Europe and has an impressive professional international choreographic portfolio all around the world, working with world class organisations, and artists such as William Forstyhe, Wayne McGregor and Shobana Jeyasingh. She was Resident Artist at the Teatro del Lago in Chile in 2019, and commissioned choreographer at the Ballet de Santiago, National Opera Theater of Chile in 2023.
ANGEL VR @ KDF016
ADMISSION NOTICE
Please note that entry is organised in groups of up to 5 people according to the schedule. Admission is free. Visitors are required to arrive 10 minutes before the start of the programme.
Reservations:
Karlovac Dance Festival — Credits
The summer edition of the Karlovac Dance Festival is presented as part of the Zvjezdano ljeto 2026 programme, with the support of the City of Karlovac.
Supported by: Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, the City of Karlovac, and Karlovac County
Media Partner: HRT3