Holland Festival Opens with Unique Fusion of Thai Dance and AI
amsterdam, donderdag, 12 juni 2025.
The 78th Holland Festival recently kicked off with ‘Cyber Subin’, an innovative blend of traditional Thai dance and artificial intelligence. This European premiere, created by choreographer Pichet Klunchun, demonstrates how technology and culture can enrich each other. The dancers wear sensors that generate avatars which respond to their movements, creating a fascinating interaction between human and machine. The audience gets a unique glimpse into how old traditions can evolve in a modern world.
A Unique Fusion of Culture and Technology
The 78th Holland Festival recently opened with ‘Cyber Subin’, an innovative combination of traditional Thai dance and artificial intelligence. This European premiere, created by choreographer Pichet Klunchun, shows how technology and culture can enhance each other. The dancers wear sensors that generate avatars which react to their movements, creating a captivating interaction between human and machine. The audience gets a unique insight into how ancient traditions can evolve in a modern world [1].
Traditional Thai Dance and Modern Technology
Cyber Subin is a spectacular fusion of the rich traditions of Thai dance and the latest technology. The movements of the dancers are inspired by ‘Mae Bot Yai’, 59 poses from the traditional Thai masked dance, Khon. This dance form, performed since the 14th century, was added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2018 [3]. Klunchun, who has studied these movements for more than two decades, continuously seeks ways to reinterpret them [1][2].
Interaction Between Human and Machine
In Cyber Subin, the dancers wear special suits with sensors connected to a computer. This computer generates avatars that respond to the dancers’ movements. The dancers are challenged to react, resist, or dance with the avatars. This interaction demonstrates how tradition does not have to be static but can live and evolve [1]. The integration of artificial intelligence in dance is not new, but thanks to the accessibility of modern technology, it has become much more accessible [1].
Reception and Audience Participation
Theatre and dance critic Annette Embrechts of the Volkskrant discussed the performance on the programme De Ochtend. She was curious about how the audience, and even the king, would receive this performance. The audience was even invited to join in the dancing, symbolising an act of imitation and the passing down of tradition [1][4]. The performance combines four human dancers with moving avatars, which sometimes had limited success under extreme parameter settings [5].
Future Perspectives
Cyber Subin demonstrates how technology and art can enrich each other and create new forms of expression. While the human element will always remain essential in dance, the integration of AI offers new possibilities for creative and interactive performances [1][2]. The Holland Festival offers a three-week glimpse into international performing arts, providing viewers with unique performances they are unlikely to see elsewhere in the Netherlands [1].