Rothlein was introduced to dance as a student of music at the Philadelphia High
School for the Creative and Performing Arts. He studied theater and film at
Kalamazoo College, leading him ultimately to couple his interest in dance and
music with his passion for film.
In 1991, Rothlein attended Beijing Language Institute, where he studied Mandarin
Chinese and Chinese arts and culture. He returned to Asia several times, to
work for MTV Asia and to produce and direct Eyes of the Storm (1997). The documentary
received a NEMA Bronze Apple Award and is currently in educational distribution
throughout North America.
Rothlein’s filmmaking explores the intersections of dance and film. His
films have been broadcast on public television in Philadelphia and California
and presented at Anthology Film Archives, Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center,
The Forrest Theater, the Peabody Essex Museum, the BBC London Short Film Festival,
and taken on tour with Dance on Camera Film Festival throughout North
America. His work with both classical ballet and modern dance is captured
in documentary, experimental, and live performance collaborations.
Song of the Body (1997), a documentary using dance as a language to express
the impact of HIV/AIDS on the dance community, was named in the list of best
dance films in the newly published text Envisioning Dance. Other work on film
includes Invisible (1999), a collaboration with choreographers Matthew Neenan
and Amanda Miller, which places dance into the very physical world of
a cramped diner, and Swan (2000), a modern retelling of Fokine’s dying
swan choreography.
In addition to many works with Phrenic, Rothlein's video and visual design collaborations
include Facing Mekka with Hip Hop pioneer Rennie Harris, Baby Case at the Arden
Theatre, Spin at the Wilma Theatre, two works with London choreographer Carol
Brown, four projects with the music of London composer Pete Wyer, and SHARPWIRE’s
contemporary opera Adam’s Apple which has been touring the UK and recently
opened the Battersea New Opera Festival in London. Rothlein is a founding
member and co-artistic director of Phrenic New Ballet.
James is committed to the creation of collaborative and socially conscious work for theatre, dance, and the living space. He is focused on the development of light as a character and is constantly exploring ways to sustain performance outside of the traditional venue. In 2005 he co-founded Mlab (www.theMlab.net) with design partner and Miro Co-Artistic Director, Tobin Rothein. Created as a laboratory for innovations and design technologies in the live arts, Mlab has realized numerous scenic, light, and video designs specifically tailored for efficient and sustainable touring.
James is an Artistic Associate with Pig Iron Theatre Company, the Resident Lighting Designer and Production Manager for Miro Dance Theatre, and a Company Member of Johannes Wieland’s New York company. He has also had the pleasure of collaborating with Rennie Harris, John Jasperse, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Michael John Garces, Bill Shannon, Reggie Wilson, Antony Rizzi, David Szlasa, Sara Shelton Mann, and Thaddeus Phillips as well as Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Southern Repertory Theatre, Z Space Studios, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Gas & Electric Arts, and Lubelski Teatr Tanca.
James’ work has been presented throughout the US and internationally at venues ranging from Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and the Staatstheater in Kassel, Germany to an abandoned Philadelphia Rite Aid and the rural Pennsylvania forest. Other venues include the Walker Center, REDCAT, ACT Seattle, Yale Repertory Theatre, Kimmel Center Philadelphia, The New Victory Theatre, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Peacock Theatre, ZKM (Karlsruhe), Whitney Museum Altria, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, and a myriad of national and international festivals.