Mirror, Mirror on the Screen: Who Controls the Story?

An interactive dance performance explores technology, choice, and human connection in the digital age.

On Saturday, June 20, 2026, audiences gathered at The Lang Theater at the Atlas Performing Arts Center in Washington, D.C., for Poisoned Apple?, an innovative contemporary dance performance by choreographer Kyoko Fujimoto. Inspired by Snow White, the interactive production invited spectators to shape the story in real time through live voting, transforming the audience from passive observers into active participants. Blending dance, storytelling, and technology, the performance explored how social media, digital validation, and online choices increasingly influence our identities and relationships in the modern world.

The show was innovative and engaging dance performance that explored the relationship between people and technology through movement, storytelling, and audience participation. Inspired by fairy tale themes, including references to the Poisoned Apple, the production examined how digital devices, social media, and online interactions influence our daily lives. The performance presented these topics in a creative and accessible way, transforming familiar conversations about screen time and technology into a unique artistic experience.

Kyoko Fujimoto and Yabsira Kuraz

What made the performance especially memorable was its interactive format. Throughout the show, audience members were invited to participate in live polls that directly influenced the storyline and choreography. Using their phones, attendees voted on various questions related to digital behavior and technology. One poll asked participants to identify the digital “spirits” that best reflected their online experiences, including concepts such as genuine connection, digital burnout, social validation, and curiosity. Another poll asked whether powerful new devices should be introduced immediately or whether people should first strengthen their real-world connections. Based on the voting results, the performers adapted the next scenes, making the audience an active part of the production.

As an observer, I found this approach highly effective because it mirrored the way technology influences decision-making in everyday life. Rather than simply discussing algorithms, social media, and digital habits, the performance allowed the audience to experience how choices shape outcomes. The production addressed both the positive and negative sides of technology, highlighting issues such as digital pressure, online validation, and burnout while also recognizing the opportunities for communication, learning, and connection that digital platforms provide.

Following the performance, the audience had the opportunity to participate in a discussion with the choreographer, dancers, and creative team. During the conversation, the performers explained that the production was far more complex than a traditional dance performance because it contained approximately 280 possible pathways. Since audience votes determined the direction of the show, the cast had to rehearse numerous versions of scenes and choreography. They also prepared special tiebreaker sequences in case audience votes ended evenly. The performers noted that no two performances were exactly the same because every audience made different choices.

The creative team also discussed how they translated abstract concepts such as social media pressure, anxiety, algorithms, and digital dependence into movement. They explained that much of the choreography emerged from conversations about their personal experiences with technology and online life. Through collaboration and discussion, these experiences were transformed into dance, allowing the performers to communicate complex emotions and ideas without spoken dialogue. Several performers emphasized that technology should not be viewed as entirely positive or negative, but rather as a tool whose impact depends on how people choose to use it.

Overall, I found the performance to be both educational and thought-provoking. The combination of audience participation, contemporary social themes, and artistic expression created an engaging experience that encouraged reflection on our relationship with technology. The discussion with the creative team further highlighted the remarkable preparation and creativity behind the production. By blending technology, storytelling, and live performance, the event successfully demonstrated how art can inspire meaningful conversations about the digital world and the role it plays in modern society.