Lots of people have dreams about flying, but what if that same floating sensation were actually possible? One collaborative performance titled Levitation nailed it by pairing 3D projection, inventive contemporary choreography, and an impressive amount of backstage dedication. Check out the trippy video above via The Creators Project, which was broadcasted on Russian TV.

The experimental collaboration between Russian creative team Sila Sveta under the art director of Arthur Kondrashenkov, creative producer Alexander Us, and dancer-choreographer Anna Abalikhina reaches Doctor Strange levels in visuals. Mitya Vikoronova’s harmonious composition and Jury Chulkov’s free-flowing movements are also peak. Since it’s viral release, this video has reached over five millions views in one month.

To make a performance like this look and feel like as ephemeral as a dream requires special equipment. In a way this is a throwback to the theatrics of nineteenth-century ballets when pulley systems hidden behind elaborate sets were used to make ballerinas glide above the stage like mystical creatures. Sure, that may seem dated now, but the same idea is put into play with this performance–except we’ve got the massive addition of computer technology.

The visuals projected in 3D surrounding Chulkov are rendered in real-time using Sila Sveta’s speciality tracking system based on Unity Development software. The kaleidoscopic shapes and figures were created to match Chulkov’s improvisation without post-production. To make this work the team had to strategically film from certain angles to amplify the levitating effect of the combined movements and visuals. On the Sila Sveta website Kondrashenkov notes, “Levitation is a unique non-commercial experiment with a large team involved, including staff of the TV channel, the choreographer and the filming crew. From the very beginning they gave Sila Sveta complete artistic freedom. This was a great experience of working with complex tracking software and generative content.”

We hope to see more 3D projection in art as technology moves us forward in time. What do you think about this mind-bending performance? Couldn’t you just imagine Dr. Strange dimension hopping and dancing in his cape like this?

Images, video, and gif: The Creators Project & Sila Sveta