Tag: Ruth St. Denis

Dance Film Reviews

Documentary Shines New Light on a Dance and Visual Effects Pioneer  [REVIEW]

By Steve Sucato Even the brightest of us can disappear from humanity’s collective memory over time. Such was the case for Löie Fuller, a woman made famous for her dances manipulating fabric and her pioneering use of light, color, and shadow in her dance works of the late 19th and early 20th century. A transformative figure in the arts and artist rights, her remarkable contributions … Continue reading Documentary Shines New Light on a Dance and Visual Effects Pioneer  [REVIEW]

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Pittsburgh City Paper

Culture Clash

By Steve Sucato Was modern-dance pioneer Ruth St. Denis a racist? St. Denis (1880–1968) introduced Eastern culture into Western dance. For her famous “Oriental” dances of the early 1900s, she donned makeup to change the color of her skin a la Al Jolson, and costumed herself based on museum photographs. In his latest dance work, Ruth Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Santa Monica-based dancer/choreographer Lionel Popkin uses St. Denis’ … Continue reading Culture Clash

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