Lionel Popkin, who is half-Jewish/half-Indian, explores how our origins define who we are. His dances are simultaneously low-tech and lush, questioning and funny. His latest work Ruth Doesn’t Live Here Anymore considers the paradoxical legacy of modern dance pioneer Ruth St. Denis, co-founder of the famed Denishawn Company, who brought “Orientalism” to Western dance. Was the iconic “Miss Ruth” a trailblazer, a thief, or something in between? Ruth Doesn’t Live Here Anymore features a live performance of an original score by Guy Klucevsek for accordion and violin that evokes both Klezmer and Indian music. Currently Popkin is an Associate Professor of Choreography and Performance at UCLA.

“delightfully mercurial” ... “fabulous actions” ... “I enjoy seeing Popkin’s shifting from solid to liquid to gas and then to just a flash of wide smile.”       -Lisa Kraus, The Philadelphia Inquirer