The Background of Fire Dance's Choreographer---Loie Fuller

Fire dance

Background of Loie Fuller

Loie Fuller’s original name is Marie Louise Fuller. She was born in Jan. 15, 1862, Fullersburg, and died in Jan. 1, 1928, Paris, France. She, an American dancer, was a pioneer of both modern dance and theatrical lighting techniques. She was an innovator who loves nature. She tried to express nature by using colors and movements.

She debuted in her first stage in Chicago at the age of four. Over the next quarter century, she toured with stock companies, burlesque shows, vaudeville, and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, gave temperance lectures and Shakespearean readings, and appeared in different plays in Chicago and New York City. 

Serpentine Dance

She gained inspirations from China silk which was soft and easy to catch the light. Then she began experimenting with varying lengths of silk and different colored lighting. These experiments finally became one of her very famous dance ---“ Serpentine Dance”, which she first presented in New York in February 1892. 

Fire Dance

Later she traveled to Europe and in October she showed her “ Fire Dance”. Then she became famous around the world. Many writers were interested in writing about her.

She sent out touring dance companies to all parts of Europe from her school in Paris after World War I. Fuller’s final stage appearance was her "Shadow Ballet" in London in 1927.