Dr. Merritt Moore: Quantum Physicist and Ballerina Pioneering Human-Robot Dance at NDTV World Summit 2025

Dr. Merritt Moore focuses her research on quantum physics and robotics while maintaining a career as a professional ballerina.

New Delhi:

At the NDTV World Summit 2025, attendees witnessed a remarkable fusion of science and art as Dr. Merritt Moore demonstrated how quantum physics and ballet can harmoniously coexist. As someone who divides her time between physics laboratories and dance studios, Dr. Moore embodies the integration of seemingly disparate disciplines.

During her presentation, Dr. Moore revealed that despite attempts to "retire from ballet" in recent years, she found it impossible to abandon her artistic passion. "I cannot retire; it is my oxygen," she explained. "When I stopped dancing, my grades would decline. I realized that as humans, we should embrace both our technological and artistic capacities simultaneously."

When asked about the challenges of working with robots, Moore humorously shared an anecdote from the previous evening, noting that her robotic partner had experienced "stage fright" but was now performing as expected.

Discussing her journey into robot choreography, Moore explained, "After completing my PhD, the pandemic hit, preventing me from dancing with human partners. Since dance is fundamentally a form of communication requiring human interaction, I turned to robots as they couldn't contract COVID. I spent countless hours from morning until midnight in isolation, programming robots that eventually became unusual companions, spending more time with me than any human."

Dr. Moore revealed that some of her most meaningful performances involve her robot partners, allowing her to explore personal memories and even simulate conversations with deceased loved ones. "It would be challenging to explore those emotions with another human dancer. With a robot, I can access those deeper personal experiences," she elaborated.

Finding equilibrium between quantum physics and ballet has been a continuous journey for Dr. Moore. She admitted there were times she considered focusing exclusively on one discipline but discovered this diminished her overall fulfillment. "When I concentrate solely on dance, I miss engaging the analytical part of my brain that considers quantum physics or robotics—aspects that enhance my performance in the dance studio. Similarly, when immersed in physics, dance provides a creative outlet that improves my scientific thinking," she explained.

Dr. Moore encourages others to embrace their unique interests and passions. Reflecting on the initial skepticism she faced when beginning to dance with robots, she advises, "Find those weird, quirky passions. There's tremendous power in what I call 'submarine mode'—pursuing your interests regardless of external opinions. You never know where it might lead, and ultimately, what matters is doing something you love."

She also urged women in particular to allow themselves adequate time for growth rather than succumbing to pressure for immediate brilliance.

Addressing artificial intelligence and human creativity, Dr. Moore suggested that we're transitioning from "survival of the fittest" to "survival of the most creative." She emphasized, "If we don't stimulate our brains and think about creative applications for AI, robots, and technology, we risk replacement. Robots and AI can handle routine tasks, but creativity remains distinctly human."

For her performance at the NDTV World Summit 2025, Moore playfully named her robot partner "Botney Spears." The audience witnessed a mesmerizing duet between Dr. Moore and her self-programmed robot, showcasing quantum-inspired movements that blended science with artistic expression.

During a rapid-fire question session, Dr. Moore chose humans over robots when forced to select between them. When asked to choose between quantum physics and ballet, she diplomatically responded, "Whichever I am not doing is what I like more."

She expressed preference for emotions over logic, instinct over AI, but coding over choreography, and favored 3 AM experiments over late-night ballet sessions.

When asked what human quality she would most want to instill in her robot, Dr. Moore chose "uniqueness," explaining that "perfectionism is replaceable, but uniqueness is irreplaceable."

Looking toward future aspirations, Dr. Moore revealed her dream to eventually perform in space, continuing her journey of merging science and art in increasingly ambitious ways.