How Quantum Physicist Merritt Moore Found Artistic Expression Through Robot Dance Partners During Pandemic Isolation

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when human connection became scarce, Merritt Moore, an Oxford-trained quantum physicist and professional ballerina, discovered an innovative solution to maintain her artistic expression: dancing with robots.

At the NDTV World Summit, Moore shared how isolation challenged her to explore new frontiers at the intersection of art and science.

"I couldn't dance with humans anymore," Moore explained. "Dance functions as a form of communication, and I suddenly lost that connection. So I thought, robots don't contract COVID. Perhaps I could program one to become my dance partner."

What began as a practical solution evolved into a profound artistic experiment. Moore dedicated extensive hours, from early morning until midnight, in an empty theater programming her robotic dance companion, affectionately named "Botney Spears." She playfully added, "Some days it's Fred AI-staire, other days it's Botman or Robot De Niro." The robot was specifically designed to move harmoniously with her choreography.

"It transformed into my unusual but reliable companion throughout the pandemic," she reflected. "Some of my most vulnerable performances occur with the robot because it enables me to explore memories and emotions I wouldn't feel comfortable sharing with another human."

Moore, who divides her professional life between quantum computing laboratories and ballet studios, elaborated on how this pandemic experience highlighted the essential synergy between scientific and artistic pursuits. "When I focus exclusively on dance, I miss the satisfaction of critical thinking. When I spend too much time in the lab, I yearn for creative expression. I require both elements to flourish," she explained.

Her journey reinforced a fundamental guiding principle in her life - embracing "Why not?" Initially pressured to choose between physics and ballet, Moore now fully embraces both worlds.

The pandemic, according to Moore, presented opportunities to integrate technology with human expression in previously unimaginable ways. "As humans, we should be able to hope and dream while actively exploring both the technological and artistic dimensions of our brains," she concluded.