Collective Cadence investigates the complex dynamics between mass dances, individual expression, and control systems. The project emphasizes rhythm’s crucial role in initiating, disseminating, and encapsulating collective desires and fears.

Intertwining elements of history, anthropology, ethnomusicology, and AI co-creation, it scrutinizes how performing rhythm functions as a societal response mechanism, supporting, evading, or combating dominant structures.

The project builds on Simona Deaconescu’s current research of mysterious mass dance events that appear in liminal periods and Grigore Burloiu’s research in interactive music and rhythm generation.

Grigore and Simona will explore rhythms and states of contagion, trance, decisiveness, and ecstasy by designing a playful system staged as a lecture performance – an AI-mediated dialogue with the audience.