SF Ballet MERE MORTALS A Mere Pax de Deux and a Merde Ballet

I didn't fancy SF Ballet's "Mere Mortals" ( 2024) choreographed by Aszure Barton with music by Floating Points.  Here's several reasons why.  First and foremost, there was too little dancing, too much monotonous prancing, posing and video showings.  For those who love the ballet (as do I ) a modicum of ballet is prerequisite. This ballet contained only a slight amount of ballet dancing.  Ballet in "Mere Mortals" was missing in action. The concept of AI as a genesis for a creative work could work nicely.  With the omnipresent invasion of AI incorporating into the ballet repertoire was Absolutely Intriguing; especially around the Bay Area.  Carmen Kovacs, the dramaturgist* for the piece said about blending the Greek Myth Pandora and AI, "The audience doesn't have to know the myth at all to take meaning from the ballet because you will naturally feel what it's about..."  I came in to the ballet not knowing that the Pandora Myth was part of the pastiche.  I was aware of the AI Aspect Intended.  And, I expected some relevant storytelling or argument for or against its usage.  The ballet failed to deliver much to ponder but much to wonder how the finished product got approved for presentation due to its lackluster choreography and waste of energy.  The use of video can add to production value. The opening began with a video of what felt like the inside of a volcano which spewed its lava flow. A tall dancer in cossack style dress entered who appeared foreboding and overbearing of the dancers. The corps ballet also attired all in form-fitting black leotards appeared as a populous that functioned as a whole without variation (as in the TV series "Pluribus").  Choreographer Barton borrowed from his earlier, far superior work, "Busk"(2019).  "Busk" was far more creative, cunning and exciting.  The facial expressions (or lack thereof) in "Busk" served to portray street entertainers; hence its title.  Perhaps, "Mere Mortals" work work better as a shorter piece with the corps ballet in unison surrounding the soloists while they perform their pas de deus.  The couple in their body-fitting latex with a metallic coloration stood out nicely from the ensemble.  The  uniformity of the masses contrasted with the separate, free-thinking, duo dancers. This gave pause to consider too much reliance on AI.  I have high praise the soloists whose movements echoed those of balloons rippling out front of used car lots.  Time was flagrantly wasted by a single dancer on standing stock-still on-stage, back to the audience.  The dancer stood and merely watched a video for five monotonous minutes.  I do commend the originality of the score by Floating Points, a.k.a. Sam Shepherd. The soloists captured the musicality of the electronic sounding score that was neither discordant, nor melodic, but definitely hypnotic.  (It put the two seniors next to me to sleep for the) performance.  Merde! I paid $245 for my seat.  I saw "Mere Mortals" yesterday for the first and only time. I will not be going for an encore.

*A dramatic aids the development of a work by providing literary or historical context and supports the creative team in telling the intended story.