Ilya Vidrin

Dr. Ilya Vidrin is a choreographer, dramaturg, and director of The Partnering Lab. Born into a refugee family, Ilya’s work engages with and investigates ethics of physical interaction, including the embodiment of care, trust, cultural competence, consent, and social responsibility. As an Assistant Professor of Creative Practice Research and Core Faculty at the Institute for Experimental Robotics, Ilya draws on concepts and methods in social epistemology, performance philosophy, ethics of care, dance studies, and cognitive psychology. Ilya has been featured as one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” (2022), and has been an artist-in-residence at Jacob’s Pillow (’18, ’19, ’23), National Choreographic Center, MIT Media Lab, Harvard ArtLab, L.A. Contemporary Dance Company, North Atlantic Ballet, Ballet Des Monies, Schwerin Ballet, the National Parks Service, The Walnut Hill School, Interlochen Arts Academy, Boston Center for the Arts, Le Laboratoire, Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), and the NewMuseum (NYC).

Ilya is an alum of Northeastern, where he pursued undergraduate studies in Cognitive Psychology, Neuroscience, and Rhetorical Theory. He ​holds a Master’s Degree in Human Development and Psychology ​from​ Harvard University, and a doctorate in Performing Arts ​from the Centre for Dance Research at​ Coventry University (United Kingdom). His fieldwork involved creative research residencies with The Royal Swedish Ballet, Berlin Staatsballett, The Cambrians, Boston Ballet, Chicago Hubbard Street, and the Erick Hawkins Dance Company. Ilya has performed works by dance artists including William Forsythe, ​Sidra Bell, Aszure Barton, Ohad Naharin, Brian Brooks, Jill Johnson, Ali Kenner Brodsky, and Jessi Stegall.