My Digital Twin
Jason Yip and Sari Mizoe
Digital Twin delves into the complexities of conformity within East Asian cultures, using dance as a lens to explore how our upbringing and lived experiences connect us to both escapism and liberation. At its core, this work draws inspiration from the Japanese dance style Parapara, a vibrant and highly synchronized dance that originated in the 1980s and evolved from Eurobeat music. Parapara, known for its precision and uniformity, serves as a powerful metaphor for the societal expectations that shape our identities.
The dance’s structured movements become a means of expression, allowing us to challenge norms while celebrating the joy that comes from discipline and synchronicity. This duality reflects our lived realities—navigating the tension between our authentic selves and the personas we are often forced to present in various contexts, whether in our personal lives, as artists, or on social media. This project speaks to a universal struggle, especially in today’s digital age, where the line between our true identity and our digital persona blurs.
Credits
Concept, Choreography
& Performance: Jason Yip & Sari Mizoe
Creative Technology: Luca Biada / Fenyce
Cinematography: Thomas Rosser
Film Direction: Alex J. Campbell
Film Production Company: Oskein
Music: Linear Acid by Mintz
Mentorship: Alexander Whitley
Filmed on location at UCL East
Created with support from Alexander Whitley Dance Company. A Digital Body Festival commission with funding from Arts Council England.
Jason Yip and Sari Mizoe
Jason Yip, originally from Hong Kong and now a freelance movement artist based in London, recently joined the Korean National Contemporary Dance Company in Seoul as a guest for their production of "Init" by Kim Sung Yong. Previously, Jason was part of the 2023 VERVE cohort, the MA dance company of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, under the direction of Matteo Marfoglia. During this time, he toured international works by KOR'SIA, Faye Tan, and Jamaal Burkmar. After leaving VERVE, he collaborated with KOR'SIA in Madrid on their new creation, "Mont Ventoux." Jason's dance journey began at age six with street and commercial dance in Hong Kong, later evolving into a unique fusion of genres through his training in contemporary dance. He trained at the CAT contemporary program at Swindon Dance and pursued full-time training at London Contemporary Dance School, where he completed a BA course. As a Maker, Jason is currently associated with Swindon Dance as a professional artist, where he continues to develop his artistic practice. He has also presented a piece featuring a custom-made wearable cardboard house prop, connecting the playful aspects of childhood with the movement and concept of the work. Additionally, he directed a movement installation that premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2022. Jason is passionate about exploring how memory and play shape movement. He views the body as an archive that sparks dialogues on socio-political issues. This perspective aligns with this belief that incorporating technology can extend the human body and reshape how we view and archive movement.
Sari Mizoe (They/them) was born in Sapporo, Japan. They started their full-time training on the Modern/Contemporary Dance programme at Balettakademien in Stockholm, Sweden, graduating in 2019. Sari then moved on to London Contemporary Dance School (The Place), where they were a Cohan Scholarship recipient, graduating with a first-class BA honours degree in 2022.
During their studies, Sari performed an excerpt of Ohad Naharin's Decadance staged by Chisato Ohno, and worked with choreographers such as Sam Coren, Tamsin Fitzgerald (2Faced Dance), and Yael Flexer. Sari also had the opportunity to work with James Cousins Company in their production of We Are As Gods, performed at Battersea Art Centre in London, and performed an experimental live music theatre performance Who’s Afraid of Jenny Wilson directed by Py Huss-Wallin at The Royal Dramatic Theater (Dramaten) in Stockholm.
