Loie Fuller (Marie Louise Fuller) (January 15,1862 to January 1, 1928) was a pioneer of both modern dance and theatrical lighting techniques.

Born in the Chicago suburb of Fullersburg, Illinois, Fuller began her theatrical career as a professional child actress and later choreographed and performed dances in burlesque (as a skirt dancer), vaudeville, and circus shows. Inspired by the early Free dance practitioners, Fuller developed her own natural movement and improvisation techniques. Fuller combined her choreography with silk costumes illuminated by multi coloured lighting of her own design.

Although Fuller became famous in America through works such as 'Serpentine Dance ' (1891) she felt that she was not taken seriously by the other free dance practitioners. Her warm reception in Paris during an European tour persuaded Fuller to remain in France and continue her work. A regular performer at the Folies Bergere with works such as 'Fire Dance ', Fuller became the embodiment of the Art Nouveau movement.

Fuller's pioneering work attracted the attention, respect and friendship of many French artists and scientists including: Jules Chéret, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, François-Raoul Larche , Henri-Pierre Roché, Auguste Rodin, Stephane Mallarme and Marie Curie. Fuller Held many patents related to stage lighting including chemical compounds for creating gels, the use of Chemical salts for luminescent lighting and Garments (stage costumes US Patent 518347). Fuller was also a member of the French Astronomical Society.

Fuller is responsible to the European tours of the early modern dancers (she was the first American 'modern 'dancer to perform in Europe), introducing Isadora Duncan to Parisian audiences and developing the acceptance of modern dance as a serious art form.

Loie Fuller occasionally returned to America to stage performances but spent the end of her life in Paris where she passed away in 1928. Cremated, her ashes are interred in the columbarium at Cimetière du Père Lachaise in Paris.