Ruth Hellier

Ruth Hellier is a Professor of Performance Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), with affiliations in Theater and Dance, Feminist Studies, and Latin American and Iberian Studies. Her interdisciplinary work bridges performance studies, critical music/dance/theatre studies, and environmental arts. She holds a PhD from Birmingham City University and has extensive experience in performance, education, and community arts.

Education: PhD in Performance Studies and Critical Dance Studies (2002), University of Birmingham BA Hons in Music, Drama, and Dance (1983). Specialized training includes P'urhépecha language studies in Mexico (1997-1998) and Tanzanian arts (1993).

Research focuses on sound collections in natural history museums, ecoacoustic arts, postdramatic theater, and Mexican cultural history. Her projects explore embodiment, environmental ethics, and the politics of performance. Recent work includes Performing Palimpsest Bodies (2019) and Women Singers in Global Contexts (2013).

Leadership roles include Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Mexican Studies (2014–2019). She has directed initiatives like the InterAct Theatre Workshop and led arts education programs in secondary schools and community settings.