Robert Shields: My Life as a Robot | 2026 SF Dance Film Festival
Description
Robert Shields: My Life as a Robot
Meet the man who taught the world to move like a machine, and helped invent an art form along the way.
Robert Shields: My Life as a Robot celebrates the extraordinary, and often invisible, impact one artist can have on the world. In the 1970s, Robert Shields began performing his signature robot routine outside the Hollywood Wax Museum before later moving to street performances in San Francisco’s Union Square. Within a few short years, he and his wife, Lorene Yarnell, were headlining their own hit CBS variety series, The Shields & Yarnell Show. What Robert didn’t fully realize at the time was that his robot would go on to influence the DNA of popping, locking, and hip-hop dance as we know it today. Funny, joyful, and full of genuine wonder, the film introduces you to a man who makes you believe anything is possible — including, as Robert demonstrates, street skiing through downtown San Francisco.
Followed by a live performance by Poppin John; a Q&A with Robert Shields, director Mark Bonn, producer Christine Seibert Bonn, and Poppin John, moderated by Peter L. Stein; and a reception in the lobby.
Director: Mark Bonn
Choreographers: Robert Shields, Lorene Yarnell, Toni Basil, Poppin John, Madd Chadd
(United States, 2024) 87 minutes
Tickets purchased at the door will cost $1 additional per ticket.
7:30p | House Opens
8:00p | Program begins
Runtime: 86 minutes
Venue Accessibility: Brava Theater is located at 2781 24th Street. Curb cuts for the sidewalk to the Brava Theater Center are located on the corner of York and 24th Street. The entrance of the theater is on the ground floor and there is an elevator to seating in the upper level of the theater.
About the 2026 San Francisco Dance Film Festival:
The San Francisco Dance Film Festival marks its seventeenth year this fall with over 80 films celebrating dance in all its forms, from world-class ballet to endangered folkloric traditions. Eighteen in-person screenings run October 23 through November 8 at venues across San Francisco, complete with artist Q&As, panels, and community gatherings, followed by an Online Festival from November 9 through 30 featuring short film programs and online-only features. Join SFDFF 2026 for intimate documentaries, dazzling screendance, and thrilling live performance captures that celebrate the ever-evolving intersection of dance and film.
Video
Lineup
Poppin John (performer)
Poppin John is a world-renowned dancer, choreographer, educator, and movement artist with nearly three decades of experience specializing in popping, animation, and robotic movement. Originally from New Mexico and now based in Las Vegas, he has built an international career through performances, teaching, competitions, and film and television appearances. His work has been featured with major artists and brands, including Taylor Swift, Google, Pepsi, and Hyundai, and he was a finalist on NBC’s World of Dance. Known for his distinctive robotic style and intricate control of movement, Poppin John continues to push the boundaries of dance through performance and education, inspiring dancers around the world to develop their own unique movement language. MASTERCLASS ALERT! In addition to his performance at this screening, Poppin John will be teaching a masterclass for dancers on Thursday, November 5, at City Dance Studios in San Francisco. Details coming soon!
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