"Phado Mehnor" from Neural Ballet. Provocation Ideas Festival 2023. Choreographer Irina Lerman

“Neural Ballet” is a live dance presentation enriched with AI-generated visuals, collaboratively created and performed by professional ballet dancer and award-winning choreographer Irina Lerman, along with software artist Ryan Kelln. It is part of the Provocation Ideas Festival and co-presented by SpringWorks.
Phado Mehnor
Choreographer: Irina Lerman
Dancers: Alex Boyd-Smith, Haruka Kyoguchi
Visuals: Ryan Kelln
Music: "Phado [remastered]" by M-PeX
Fado is a music genre that can be traced to the 1820s in Lisbon, Portugal, but probably has much earlier origins. While popularly characterized by melancholy tunes, this modern remix of the form is turned into a passionate story by the choreography, reflecting the tension from the struggle of power in every relationship.
This work explores the process of relationship building in a couple as they craft a well-deserving harmony through opening up and exposing their strengths, weaknesses, individual growth and endless desire to be loved for who they are. How many turns do we need to find that long-awaited balance. Will it last long?
The imagery plays with abstract impasto oil painting, sometimes taking forms from the dancers themselves as the inspiration for the painted gestures.
In 2022, the National Ballet of Canada's Open Space Programme provided support for the initial phase of the creation process.
Stephen Degenstein - lighting and lighting design
Mike Fisher - videographer