THE HUMAN SPARK @ Saint Josephs' Arts Society
Presented by Saint Joseph’s Arts Society and San Francisco Ballet’s Young Patrons Circle
What happens when the future of art meets the art of the future?
Inspired by Mere Mortals — San Francisco Ballet’s contemporary reimagining of Pandora’s myth for our tech-driven era — this gathering convenes leaders from dance, technology, and contemporary art to explore how emerging tools are reshaping creative practice and cultural life in San Francisco.
Our city sits at a rare crossroads. Nearly a third of our economy runs on technology, yet the city is urgently reckoning with what that means for its cultural roots, its communities, and its sense of self. This evening is an exploration of that tension— and the powerful alchemy that results when art and technology collaborate.
Facilitated by Leah Solivan, Founder of TaskRabbit, Managing Director of Precedent.vc, and San Francisco Ballet Board Trustee, the conversation brings together Tamara Rojo, Artistic Director of San Francisco Ballet, Ruoyun Dai, multidisciplinary artist and Creative Director of 2RT Studio, andKate Hollenbach, Education Director at Gray Area Foundation for the Arts. Together, they will examine how artificial intelligence is influencing choreography, visual storytelling, audience experience, and the evolving relationship between human imagination and machine intelligence.
Produced in collaboration between Saint Joseph’s Arts Society and San Francisco Ballet’s Young Patrons Circle, the evening sits at the intersection of two worlds the city knows intimately: technological innovation and creative ambition. In a city where nearly a third of the economy runs on technology, this dialogue asks what rapid innovation means for culture, for artistic authorship, and for the human spirit.
Throughout the evening, guests will experience interactive technology activations developed by 2RT Studio, including an augmented reality experience inspired by Mere Mortals and an AI-powered mirror installation that invites visitors to step into the visual world of the ballet.
The program includes welcome remarks, a moderated discussion, audience Q&A, and time to connect over drinks and light bites.