Fuller devised a type of dance that emphasized the shifting play of lights and colors on the voluminous skirts or draperies she wore, which she kept in constant motion primarily through movements of her arms, sometimes extended with wands concealed under her costumes. She rejected the technical virtuosity of movement in ballet, the most prestigious form of theatrical dance at the time, possibly because her formal dance training was minimal. Although her early theatrical career included stints as an actress, she was not primarily interested in storytelling or expressing emotions through dance. Instead, the drama of her performances stemmed from her striking visual effects.