The Somabotics Different Bodies – Dancing with Robots team [University of Nottingham] along with Partners from the Centre for Dance Research [Coventry University], and creative practitioners are coming together for an intensive workshop exploring movement, embodiment and human-robot interaction this October.

The 3-day workshop will combine practical experiments, technical discussions and creative exploration. Day one will start with planning discussions around the development of a project film and trailer, enabling the team to consider how the aims, activities and emerging insights from the project can be communicated to wider audiences. Colleagues from the Fellowship’s Soma Skins project will also attend the workshop to explore potential connections and discuss ideas for future research.

A significant part of the workshop will focus on a series of practical dance experiments involving Franka robotic arms. Participants will engage in hands-on activities exploring movement, coordination and interaction between human bodies and robotic systems. Alongside the practical work, dedicated reflection and discussion sessions will enable participants to share observations, discuss challenges and identify emerging themes.

The workshop represents a key stage in the ongoing development of the Different Bodies – Dancing with Robots project and will support generating insights into the possibilities of human-robot collaboration, contribute to the wider research ambitions of the Fellowship and inform future research activities, creative outputs and public engagement opportunities exploring the relationships between bodies, technology and movement.