Tomboy Ballerina
Roni Mahler spent her formative years in a ballet studio under the tutelage of Madame Maria Yurieva Swoboda and at Yankee Stadium, where she cheered for her idol, Mickey Mantle. At age 18, Mahler joined the corps de ballet of the renowned Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and later became Principal Dancer at the National Ballet of Washington, D.C., under the guidance of NYCB founder George Balanchine. In 1969 she returned to New York City as a soloist with American Ballet Theatre in principal roles like the high-flying Queen of the Wilis in Giselle. Known for her singular approach to cross-training while teaching ballet to football players, Mahler has taught around the world and, as the Artistic Associate of Cleveland Ballet/Ballet San Jose, dedicated over three decades to teaching, coaching, and performing. Written in collaboration with her ballet disciple and friend, this intimate account details her journey from the ballet stage and the baseball diamond to the gridiron and beyond.
Dance Pedagogy
Dance Pedagogy is a comprehensive resource designed for dance students and teaching artists to develop skills and strategies in the multifaceted practice of teaching dance.This invaluable resource features essential components and considerations necessary for the dance teacher in any setting, including the private and community sector, university setting, and professional venues. Five distinct units provide insight into the paradigm, learning process, class environment factors, planning, and delivery of the dance class in a broad context through the use of examples within the dance forms of ballet, jazz, modern, tap, and hip-hop. Readers intently explore cognitive and motor learning, strategies for developing curricula and lesson plans, and methods of delivering material to students. Basic principles of anatomy, understanding student behavior and participation, the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (IDEA), music concepts for the dancer, injury prevention, and classroom management are included to provide a well-rounded approach to the many challenges faced in the classroom.Dance Pedagogy provides the most holistic approach available in the art of teaching dance and is a core textbook for academic courses related to Dance Teaching Methods as well as an invaluable handbook for practicing dance teachers.
Storytelling in Motion
How do filmmakers guide viewer attention through the frame using the movement of bodies on screen? What do they seek to communicate with their cinematic choreography, and how were those choices shaped by the industrial conditions available to them? Storytelling in motion: Cinematic Choreography and the Film Musical demonstrates how figure movement can serve as a versatile strategy of meaning-making, particularly when filmmakers attend to the relationship between choreographed movement and film style. Using Franco-American film musicals as case studies, this book analyses the narrative and stylistic impact of figure movement in cinema and the subtle power of cinematic choreography, those moments when filmmakers deliberately combine the strengths of film style and organized figure movement to convey narrative meaning through motion. Cinematic choreography emphasizes musical conventions in Singin' in the Rain (Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, 1952), prejudiced conflict in West Side Story (Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise, 1961), aesthetic play in Les Demoiselles de Rochefort (Jacques Demy, 1967), generic discomfort in Trois places pour le 26 (Jacques Demy, 1988), the politics of illness in Jeanne et le gar癟on formidable (Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau, 1998), and decision-making in La La Land (Damien Chazelle, 2016). Integrating vocabularies and analytical systems from Laban/Bartenieff Movement Studies, film studies, and related fields to parse cinematic figure movement on multiple formal levels, this book uses performative research methods from videographic criticism to show the poetic and oblique connections between films through videographic as well as written chapters. Storytelling in Motion centers the crucial material conditions needed to make figure movement a significant component of narrative filmmaking: time, money, rehearsal space, industrial support, and performers and crew with the necessary embodied and institutional knowledge. The films discussed tell a clear story of how cinematic choreography was used by French and American filmmakers to innovate storytelling through figure movement, inspired by their predecessors' aesthetics while working within differing industrial conditions.
The Nordic Minuet
This major new anthology of the minuet in the Nordic countries comprehensively explores the dance as a historical, social and cultural phenomenon. One of the most significant dances in Europe, with a strong symbolic significance in western dance culture and dance scholarship, the minuet has evolved a distinctive pathway in this region, which these rigorous and pioneering essays explore.As well as situating the minaret in different national and cultural contexts, this collection marshals a vast number of sources, including images and films, to analyze the changes in the dance across time and among different classes. Following the development of the minuet into dance revival and historical dance movements of the twentieth century, this rich compendium draws together a distinguished group of scholars to stimulate fresh evaluations and new perspectives on the minuet in history and practice.The Nordic Minuet: Royal Fashion and Peasant Tradition is essential reading for researchers, students and practitioners of dance; musicologists; and historical and folk dancers; it will be of interest to anybody who wants to learn more about this vibrant dance tradition.
Rhythms of Resilience
The quotes woven throughout this art and dance coloring book vividly capture the ebbs and flows of life's struggles and triumphs. It illustrates the profound power of dance as a metaphor for navigating through challenging times with grace and strength. Each dance style presents a unique message of resilience, transforming movement into emotion and footsteps into pathways leading out of adversity. Accompanied by uplifting Bible verses, this book strengthens your faith and inspires you to rebuild your life, even during the hardest times.
The Nordic Minuet
This major new anthology of the minuet in the Nordic countries comprehensively explores the dance as a historical, social and cultural phenomenon. One of the most significant dances in Europe, with a strong symbolic significance in western dance culture and dance scholarship, the minuet has evolved a distinctive pathway in this region, which these rigorous and pioneering essays explore.As well as situating the minaret in different national and cultural contexts, this collection marshals a vast number of sources, including images and films, to analyze the changes in the dance across time and among different classes. Following the development of the minuet into dance revival and historical dance movements of the twentieth century, this rich compendium draws together a distinguished group of scholars to stimulate fresh evaluations and new perspectives on the minuet in history and practice.The Nordic Minuet: Royal Fashion and Peasant Tradition is essential reading for researchers, students and practitioners of dance; musicologists; and historical and folk dancers; it will be of interest to anybody who wants to learn more about this vibrant dance tradition.
Dance, Technology and Social Justice
This book theorizes dance technique as the Greek techne translated as art, and shows how movement can inspire epistemic, philosophical, and cultural conversations in technology studies. Combining dance studies, religious studies, and technology studies, it argues that dance can be a technology of social justice bringing equanimity, liberation and resistance. It focuses on the eastern Indian art form Odissi and applied experimentations with motion capture technology, virtual reality (VR) gaming, and Arduino. It specifically examines tthe work of Ananya Dance Theatre (ADT), a Minnesota based contemporary Indian dance company that deconstructs Odissi towards social justice activism.
Stepping Left
Stepping Left simultaneously unveils the radical roots of modern dance and recalls the excitement and energy of New York City in the 1930s. Ellen Graff explores the relationship between the modern dance movement and leftist political activism in this period, describing the moment in American dance history when the revolutionary fervor of "dancing modern" was joined with the revolutionary vision promised by the Soviet Union. This account reveals the major contribution of Communist and left-wing politics to modern dance during its formative years in New York City.From Communist Party pageants to union hall performances to benefits for the Spanish Civil War, Graff documents the passionate involvement of American dancers in the political and social controversies that raged throughout the Depression era. Dancers formed collectives and experimented with collaborative methods of composition at the same time that they were marching in May Day parades, demonstrating for workers' rights, and protesting the rise of fascism in Europe. Graff records the explosion of choreographic activity that accompanied this lively period-when modern dance was trying to establish legitimacy and its own audience. Stepping Left restores a missing legacy to the history of American dance, a vibrant moment that was supressed in the McCarthy era and almost lost to memory. Revisiting debates among writers and dancers about the place of political content and ethnicity in new dance forms, Stepping Left is a landmark work of dance history.
Women's Dance Traditions of Uzbekistan
The first comprehensive work in English on the three major regional styles of Uzbek women's dance - Ferghana, Khiva and Bukhara - and their broader Silk Road cultural connections, from folklore rootsto contemporary stage dance. The book surveys the remarkable development from the earliest manifestations in ancient civilizationsto a sequestered existence under Islam; from patronage under Soviet power to a place of pride for Uzbek nationhood. It considers the role that immigration had to play on the development of the dances; how women boldly challenged societal gender roles to perform in public; how both material culture and the natural world manifest in the dance; and it illuminates the innovations of pioneering choreographers who drew from Central Asian folk traditions, gestures and aesthetics - not Russian ballet - to first shape modern Uzbek stage dance. Written by the first American dancer invited to study in Uzbekistan, this book offers insight into the once-hidden world of Uzbek women's dance.
Dance Data, Cognition, and Multimodal Communication
This book is the result of a collaborative and transdisciplinary effort towards a first definition of "dance data", with its complexities and contradictions, in a time where cognitive science is growing in parallel to the need of a renewed awareness of the body's agency in our manyfold interactions with the world.
The Thinking Body
2024 Hardcover Reprint of the 1937 Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition software. Complete with all Illustrations from the 1937 edition. Mabel Elsworth Todd is considered the founder of what has come to be known as 'Ideokinesis', a form of somatic education that became popular in the 1930s amongst dancers and health professionals. Todd's ideas involved using anatomically based, creative visual imagery and consciously relaxed volition to create and refine neuromuscular coordination. Lulu Sweigard, who coined the term Ideokinesis, and Barbara Clark furthered Todd's work. Todd's work was published in her book The Thinking Body (1937), which is now considered by modern dance schools to be a classic study of physiology and the psychology of movement. Her work influenced many somatic awareness professionals of her day, and is often cited along with The Feldenkrais method for its focus on the subtle influence of unconscious intention and attention.
Prodigy Performance Habits
'Prodigy Performance' provides guidance for aspiring dancers, emphasizing the importance of mindset, goal-setting, positive self-talk, and surrounding oneself with supportive individuals. It stresses the significance of dedication, persistence, efficient training, healthy habits, and maintaining focus on long-term goals. Through the sections in this book, it explores the principles of safe training, the value of competition, the impact of social circles, and the role of mentors. It encourages dancers to cultivate a proactive approach to their careers, fostering self-belief, gratitude, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Prodigy Performance Habits
'Prodigy Performance' provides guidance for aspiring dancers, emphasizing the importance of mindset, goal-setting, positive self-talk, and surrounding oneself with supportive individuals. It stresses the significance of dedication, persistence, efficient training, healthy habits, and maintaining focus on long-term goals. Through the sections in this book, it explores the principles of safe training, the value of competition, the impact of social circles, and the role of mentors. It encourages dancers to cultivate a proactive approach to their careers, fostering self-belief, gratitude, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Pilobolus
The dynamic history of theinnovative, beloved, and critically acclaimed dance theater company, withrevelatory behind-the-scenes details of its creators and significant works The ingeniously innovative and enduringly popularAmerican dance theatre company Pilobolus has helped redefine, remix, andrejuvenate the essence of dance with its eclectic sensibility and daringathleticism. Now, for the first time, the story of Pilobolus, from itscounterculture origins through its pop-culture triumphs and contemporary globalacclaim, is revealed in a book that will entrance longtime admirers andnewcomers alike. Written with unprecedented accessto the company--with insights from unpublished archival materials and interviewswith its founders, dancers, and current artistic directors--and featuring bothclassic and never-before-seen photos, Pilobolus offers previously untolddetails about the group's history and the creation of its most significantworks. Robert Pranzatelli describes the company's genesis in a Dartmouth danceclass in 1971 and how Pilobolus revolutionized dance with its blend ofsensuality, physical achievement, and visual wit. In these pages, the troupe performson Broadway, travels the world, and by the late 1980s secures a place in dancehistory, while its growth is marked by periods of internal conflict, challenges, and change. As Pilobolus continues to morph, invent, and thrive withthe arrival of new artists and collaborators, its story encompasses love, loss, grief, and rebirth, as well as insights into the secrets of the creativeprocess--how performers and choreographers think and work. More than ahistory, Pilobolus is a narrative of life and art, and the vitality thatinfuses and inspires both when they align and inhabit each other.
Social Foxtrot
Master the Social Foxtrot with this definitive, updated 2026 guide from Andy Mundy, a Fellow of the International Dance Teachers' Association (IDTA).This easy-to-follow handbook is designed for dancers of every age and ability, offering a logical, intuitive learning experience for both novices and seasoned professionals.Drawing on his experience as an Examiner and Championship Professional Adjudicator with Canada DanceSport, and with over 20 years teaching experience, Andy simplifies complex terminology and optimizes figures for greater fluidity and accessibility in this revised edition.Inside you will find: - Easy-to-Understand Fundamentals: Clear explanation of essential technique, definitions, and principles which also apply to other Ballroom dances.- Step-by-Step Charts: Detailed breakdown of timing, foot positions, alignment, footwork, and amount of turn for every figure.- New and Optimized Figures: Fresh content, including figures adapted from other Ballroom dances, to enhance your repertoire.- Expanded Music Guide: Curated tracks and categories to help you find the perfect rhythm for practice dances or social events.- Professional Insight: Explanatory notes to many of the charts to clarify movement, timing, and technique.Whether you are a beginner looking for an essential guide, an experienced dancer seeking inspiration, or a dance teacher in need of a valued technical reference, this 85-page manual is your ultimate companion.Build your foundation and dance with confidence-start today!
The Church’s Position on Dancing
The moral dangers of the too common and too fashionable amusements of dancing are pointed out, with as much force as clearness and learning, in this small but valuable book. The author extracts proofs from the Holy Scriptures, the Holy Fathers, Holy Councils, and from the theologians most renowned for their piety and learning.Familiarity removes, often, a due appreciation of the dangers of the dance. There are Catholics who seem to have become skeptical as to the very existence of the danger attendant on their supposed innocent recreations.We hope that these collected proofs will enlighten the mind and change the heart of those who have been the advocates of dancing, solely because they have never sufficiently considered the evils of which it is the cause and the occasion."But, you will say, the Commandments of God do not forbid dancing, nor does Holy Scripture, either. Perhaps you have not examined them very closely. Follow me for a moment and you will see that there is not a Commandment of God which dancing does not cause to be transgressed, nor a Sacrament which it does not cause to be profaned."- St. John Vianney
Fantasies of Ito Michio
Born in Japan and trained in Germany, dancer and choreographer Ito Michio (1893-1961) achieved prominence in London before moving to the U.S. in 1916 and building a career as an internationally acclaimed artist. During World War II, Ito was interned for two years, and then repatriated to Japan, where he contributed to imperial war efforts by creating propaganda performances and performing revues for the occupying Allied Forces in Tokyo. Throughout, Ito continually invented stories of voyages made, artists befriended, performances seen, and political activities carried out--stories later dismissed as false. Fantasies of Ito Michio argues that these invented stories, unrealized projects, and questionable political affiliations are as fundamental to Ito's career as his 'real' activities, helping us understand how he sustained himself across experiences of racialization, imperialism, war, and internment. Tara Rodman reveals a narrative of Ito's life that foregrounds the fabricated and overlooked to highlight his involvement with Japanese artists, such as Yamada Kosaku and Ishii Baku, and global modernist movements. Rodman offers "fantasy" as a rubric for understanding how individuals such as Ito sustain themselves in periods of violent disruption and as a scholarly methodology for engaging the past.
The Church’s Position on Dancing
The moral dangers of the too common and too fashionable amusements of dancing are pointed out, with as much force as clearness and learning, in this small but valuable book. The author extracts proofs from the Holy Scriptures, the Holy Fathers, Holy Councils, and from the theologians most renowned for their piety and learning.Familiarity removes, often, a due appreciation of the dangers of the dance. There are Catholics who seem to have become skeptical as to the very existence of the danger attendant on their supposed innocent recreations.We hope that these collected proofs will enlighten the mind and change the heart of those who have been the advocates of dancing, solely because they have never sufficiently considered the evils of which it is the cause and the occasion."But, you will say, the Commandments of God do not forbid dancing, nor does Holy Scripture, either. Perhaps you have not examined them very closely. Follow me for a moment and you will see that there is not a Commandment of God which dancing does not cause to be transgressed, nor a Sacrament which it does not cause to be profaned."- St. John Vianney
Contemporary Dance Choreography and Spectatorship
This book offers an approach which unites choreographic and spectatorial perspectives, and argues for dance itself--its materials, its structures--as a medium of emotional communication. Contemporary dance often seems to contend with issues of understanding, regularly being "read" in "languages" which alienate it. Even if emotion seems a significant part of people's engagement with dance, its workings are often surrounded by an air of mysticism. Engaging with these issues, this study investigates the experience of emotion in Euro-American contemporary dance theatre. It questions its dependence on the artist's personal emotions, and the assumption that it is mediated by representational meaning. Instead, this book proposes that the emotional import of dance emerges from an interplay between perceptual properties and symbolic elements in an embodied affective cognitive experience. This experience includes the background of the spectator as well as the context of work, choreographer, performer(s) and other creative agents.
Dance for your life
Travel through a timeline of rhythm and motion, engaging with different examples of how the skills learnt through dance can transform health and wellbeing. With narratives throughout, the book culminates on how to 'get dancing'. This book is for everyone who values fitness and wellbeing whether you are an experienced dancer or a beginner.Dance for your Life is here for anyone interested in living well. Perhaps you have felt ill or low, or your children are looking for a new dimension to their lives.Has dance been on your radar as something to explore. Maybe you would like to bring more vitality into your life, or you are here driven by curiosity: what on earth has dance to do with living life better? All children should have the chance to express themselves through dance. To realise how moving your body equates to feeling good. People have developed new habits for life. Dance to live well.The world can change in a heartbeat! Your world can change in a Dancebeat!Dancing is the loftiest, the most moving, the most beautiful of the arts. For it is no mere translation or abstraction of life. It is life itself. HENRY HAVELOCK (1859 - 1939), An English physicianDance is liberating, it's seen as an act of outward expression.Life is full of exciting opportunities, so step forward and take them. If you feel inspired to dance or to encourage others to, you must go ahead. Say yes to yourself and do it. Find out about transferable life skills learnt through dance. Read this book and discover.CreativityDiscover the joy of movementPerseveranceRespectConfidenceResponsibilitySocial SkillsFocusFlexibilityGratitudeSpatial awareness Social distancingBecoming a more knowledgeable dance audienceLeadership skillsMusicality and appreciation of musicTime managementPride of those around Inclusive movementPreparation for job interviewsEnjoying an activity with older/younger people
Social Justice in Dance/Movement Therapy
This book demonstrates the use of dance/movement therapy to directly counteract social injustices and promote healing in international settings. It also demonstrates the potential for dance/movement therapy in prevention and wellness in clinical and community settings. The use of improvisational and creative dance is presented throughout the book as a tremendously clear, strong and powerful inroad to healing in every setting. The chapters in this book do not directly address social justice in dance/movement therapy, but rather provide provoking social justice related positions. This call for a provoking re-examination of the definition of dance/movement therapy is fitting as we--as a community--challenge our identity as dance/movement therapists, educators, supervisors and as human beings who have internalized oppression in various forms through our many identifiers and the unique intersections of those identifiers. The editors and authors posit that social justice cannot be fully addressed by focusing solely on the social issues. Rather, we must be aware of where and how the social issues come into the individual(s), the setting, and the therapy process itself.Chapter "'Breaking Free': One Adolescent Woman's Recovery from Dating Violence Through Creative Dance" is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license via link.springer.com.
Antiracism in Ballet Teaching
This new collection of essays and interviews assembles research on teaching methods, choreographic processes, and archival material that challenges systemic exclusions and provides practitioners with accessible steps to creating more equitable teaching environments, curricula, classes, and artistic settings.
Materialities in Dance and Performance
What is 罈materiality竄 in dance and performance? What role does 罈the material竄 play in the formation for the cultural memory of ephemeral arts? The contributors to this volume examine concepts of materiality in dance and performance, the use of materials in artistic practices and the role of social media in changing the perception of time-based artefacts. The volume shows how the focus on materiality transforms contemporary artistic work and challenges established concepts of dance and performance research.
Still Got It, Never Lost It!
Still Got It, Never Lost It! tells the story of Louie Spence, star of Pineapple Dance Studios and ruthless judge on Dancing on Ice. 'I did everything my sisters did, that's how my dancing days started - they went dancing, I went dancing and I just kept on dancing.' - Louie Spence From a very early age Louie was a little boy who loved to dance and had high ambitions. He attended every disco dance class he could and excelled each time, with the constant support of his Mum and Dad. Before long Louie's blue leotard had become a mainstay of the family home, and soon enough he was accepted into the Italia Conti School of Theatre Arts. And he never looked back. From dancing on the Spice Girls World Tour to becoming BFFs with Emma Bunton and hanging out with Take That (not to mention his performances in Cats and Miss Saigon), Louie lived out his dreams. Now a TV personality in his own right, a judge on Dancing on Ice, the star of Pineapple Dance Studios and his own series Showbusiness, he has become a much-loved household name. This hilarious, warm and compellingly-written autobiography takes us back to Louie's early days in Essex, with a cast of characters that includes Nanny Lock (who lived down the Enfield lock), Nanny Twinkle and Nanny Downer (with whom Louie, as a kid, would swipe cans of Special Brew). Still Got It, Never Lost It! is the story of the real-life Billy Elliot - a tale that proves nothing can stop you when you think big and hold on to your dreams.
May-pole Possibilities
Originally published in 1912, this book offers a charming and nostalgic celebration of the May Day festivities of a bygone era. With detailed instructions, illustrations, and music for a variety of dances and drills, this book provides a comprehensive guide to creating your own May Day celebration. Whether you're a teacher, a parent, or just a lover of traditions and festivities, this book will inspire you to bring May Day back to life.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Holbein's Dance of Death
This beautiful facsimile edition of Hans Holbein's famous Dance of Death woodcuts provides a stunning visual journey through the medieval allegory of mortality. Originally published in 1538, the series of engravings depicts a range of characters, from pope to plowman, all facing death and depicted as skeletons. The facsimile includes also Holbein's Bible cuts, which showcase the artist's exceptional skill and creativity in woodcut design. The edition is introduced by renowned bibliophile Thomas Frognall Dibdin and includes insights into the history and significance of the works.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Dances Of To-day
Dances of To-day is a classic guide to the most popular dances of the early 20th century. Written by dance expert Albert W. Newman, this book provides detailed instructions, illustrations, and diagrams for learning or teaching a variety of modern dances, including the Tango, Hesitation, One-Step, Boston, Maxixe, and more. The book also includes historical and cultural context for each dance, making it a valuable resource for dance enthusiasts, historians, and researchers. Dances of To-day is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and practice of modern dance.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Serge Diaghilev
A biography of the visionary Russian impresario Serge Diaghilev, founder of the Ballets Russes. Lifar's first-hand account provides insights into Diaghilev's creative genius, his personal life, and the influence he had on the world of art and culture. This book also includes rare photographs and documents from the Ballets Russes archives.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Kemps Nine Daies Wonder
First published in 1600, this account of William Kemp's famous dance from London to Norwich is a fascinating glimpse into the world of Tudor England. Written by Kemp himself, and edited by Alexander Dyce, this book offers a first-hand account of a journey that captured the imagination of the nation. With its lively prose and entertaining anecdotes, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of dance and performance.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Body Impossible
Body Impossible theorizes the concept of virtuosity in contemporary dance and performance through a study of the career of dancer Desmond Richardson. A virtuoso for the ages, Richardson is renowned for delivering commanding performances over decades in contexts ranging from the stages of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ballett Frankfurt to featured appearances with Michael Jackson and Prince, along with his work as co-founder of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, inaugurating a virtuosic queer black aesthetic with choreographer Dwight Rhoden. Focusing on Richardson's creative insistence on improvisatory fun and excellence throughout the decades approaching the millennium (shaped by Reaganism, the Culture Wars, the AIDS epidemic, the New Jim Crow, and MTV), this book brings dance into conversation with paradigms of blackness, queerness, masculinity, and class in order to generate a socioculturally attentive understanding of virtuosity. Virtuosity obscures the border between popular and concert performance, and Richardson's versatility epitomizes the demands on the contemporary virtuosic dance artist. Author Ariel Osterweis suggests that discourses of virtuosity are linked to connotations of excess, and that an examination of the formal and socio-cultural aspects of virtuosic performance reveals under-recognized heterogeneity in which we detect "vernacular" influences on "high art." In doing so, Body Impossible accounts for the constitutive relationship between disciplined perceptions of virtuosity's excess and the disciplining of the racialized body in national and transnational contexts.
Experimental Dance and the Somatics of Language
This book is about dance's relationship to language. It investigates how dance bodies work with the micromovements elicited by language's affective forces, and the micropolitics of the thought-sensations that arise when movement and words accompany one another within choreographic contexts. Situating itself where theory meets practice--the zone where ideas arise to be tested, the book draws on embodied research in practices within the lineages of American postmodern dance and Japanese butoh, set in dialog with affect-based philosophies and somatics. Understanding that language is felt, both when uttered and when unspoken, this book speaks to the choreographic thinking that takes place when language is considered a primary element in creating the sensorium.
Facial Choreographies
The face contributes a vital, yet often overlooked, component of dance performance. Facial Choreographies: Performing the Face in Popular Dance examines what the face does in dance and what it may mean. Author Sherril Dodds focuses on popular presentational dance, which permits the face to be one of excess and spectacle, as well as disclosure or deception. The concept of facial choreography resists the idea that the expressive countenance in dance is simply by chance, and instead conceives its movement as purposeful, creative, and communicative. The book centers on three facial case studies: global celebrity Michael Jackson, whose face has occupied a site of fervent controversy; Maddie Ziegler, child star of the reality television series Dance Moms and de facto face of pop star Sia; and a community of hip hop dancers who engage in fiercely contested dance battles. Chapters are organized according to action-expressions, actively working even in times of stillness: SMILE, LOOK, FROWN, CRY, SCREAM, and LAUGH. Across each case study, the book explores pedagogies of facial composition, the purpose of codified expressions, and how dancers re-choreograph their faces as a critical unworking of what a dancing visage might represent. Facial choreographies engender opportunity for startling creativity, the articulation of identity, a cathartic expression of emotions and attitudes, and the capacity to dismantle previously held assumptions. As the dancing face tauntingly slips between visual, sensory, and kinetic registers it ensures that nothing can be taken at face value.
The Bodies We Are (Not)
In Western neo-liberal society, the human body is increasingly used as an 罈identity project竄 and 罈designable object竄. Antje Velsinger investigates these specific roles of the body and develops choreographic strategies for becoming unfamiliar to the own self and play as two means for emancipating the body from the neo-liberal imperative of optimization and control. Theoretical and practical artistic perspectives are in constant dialogue throughout this study. It uses the choreographic field as a gray area between theory and practice to imagine, propose, and rehearse an alternative approach to the body.
More-Than-Human Choreography
In the global context of the Great Acceleration, things and people have been on the move more than ever before. Moritz Frischkorn takes a fresh look at recent performing arts practices that deal with everyday objects on and beyond the stage. Contrasting these practices with the business field of logistics, he examines the aesthetic and ethical concerns of moving things. Drawing on concepts from performance as well as Black studies and philosophy, and based on an artistic-research methodology, the book formulates a notion of more-than-human choreography as an ecologically informed, infinitely indebted practice of living within the material world.
Staging Decadence
Winner of the 2024 TaPRA David Bradby Monograph Prize How is decadence being staged today - as a practice, issue, pejorative, and as a site of pleasure? Where might we find it, why might we look for it, and who is decadence for? This book is the first monographic study of decadence in theatre and performance. Adam Alston makes a passionate case for the contemporary relevance of decadence in the thick of a resurgent culture war by focusing on its antithetical relationship to capitalist-led growth, progress, and intensified productivity. He argues that the qualities used to disparage the study and practice of theatre and performance are the very things we should embrace in celebrating their value - namely, their spectacular uselessness, wastefulness, outmodedness, and abundant potential for producing forms of creativity that flow away from the ends and excesses of capitalism. Alston covers an eclectic range of examples by Julia Bardsley (UK), Hasard Le Sin (Finland), jaamil olawale kosoko (USA), Toco Nikaido (Japan), Martin O'Brien (UK), Toshiki Okada (Japan), Marcel-l穩 Ant繳nez Roca (Spain), Normandy Sherwood (USA), The Uhuruverse (USA), Nia O. Witherspoon (USA), and Wunderbaum (Netherlands). Expect ruminations on monstrous scenographies, catatonic choreographies, turbo-charged freneticism, visions of the apocalypse - and what might lie in its wake.
The Art of Dance Composition
The Art of Dance Composition: Writing the Body is an introduction to modern dance composition, providing clear and structured approaches to designing and defining movement that demystify the creative process.The book introduces the concepts of creating authentic movement, processes for gathering and ordering compositional elements, and the ways in which theme, story, and design relate to bodies moving through space. It approaches the practice of composition from many avenues, including the use of digital tools such as video and video editing software, digital mapping, and motion capture, and through improvisation, sourced gestures, and inspiration from visual art, found objects, and chance methodology. Flowcharts that organize and provide a framework for making dance are included, equipping readers with a clear roadmap for creating their own work.Filled with practical advice, this book is suitable for all aspiring choreographers.The Art of Dance Composition: Writing the Body includes access to performance videos that demonstrate the concepts illustrated in the book. To access the videos, visit www.daviesanddancers.com/links-to-writing-the-body.
Mapping Critical Dance Studies in India
This book provides a critical understanding of dance studies in India, bringing together various embodied practices identified loosely as dance. It suggests an alternative reading of the history of patronage, policies, and institutionalized understanding of categories such as classical, folk, modern, popular, and Bollywood that hierarchizes some dances as 'more' dance than others. It is of great interest to scholars looking at performing arts such as dance as a tool for identity assertions. It offers diverse possibilities of understanding dance through its inherent sociopolitical possibilities as a participatory or presentational tool for communication. The multidisciplinary approach brings together perspectives from critical dance studies, anthropology, history, and gender studies to connect embodied archives of different communities to create an intersectional methodology of studying dance in India as a powerful but marginal expressive art practice. Accessible at multiple levels, thecontent is relevant for undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as researchers across dance, dance education, theatre, and performance studies.
Act Creation
This workbook has been written as a tool to help you plan your next act.It contains tips, tricks and things learned over years of performing in various styles for you to consider in your planning.Lara has been involved in the performing arts for her entire life. She has a unique way of looking at acts, and all the factors involved in a performance. This workbook breaks down a number of different aspects of performing, and analyses what you need to do to help you create your unique act.
ILTS 209 Dance
This book offers more than 200 real ILTS 209 Dance Practice Exam questions, aiming to prepare you for the ILTS 209 Dance exam while aligning closely with the current content and format of the official ILTS 209 Dance examination. Additionally, it provides a detailed explanation for each ILTS 209 Dance question, allowing you to develop comprehensive subject knowledge as you engage with these freshly introduced ILTS 209 Dance exam questions.
MTEL 46 Dance
This book features over 200 real MTEL 46 Dance Practice Exam questions. These practice questions are designed to prepare you for the MTEL 46 Dance exam and are aligned with the most current content and format of the actual MTEL 46 Dance exam. Each MTEL 46 Dance question comes with a detailed explanation, helping you gain comprehensive content knowledge while using these new MTEL 46 Dance exam questions.
OAE 011 Dance
This book presents over 200 genuine OAE 011 Dance Practice Exam questions, designed to prepare you for the OAE 011 Dance exam while closely aligning with the current content and format of the official OAE 011 Dance examination. Furthermore, each OAE 011 Dance question includes a detailed explanation, enabling you to gain comprehensive subject knowledge as you work through these newly introduced OAE 011 Dance exam questions.
CEOE 178 Dance
This book features over 200 real CEOE 178 Dance Practice Exam questions. These practice questions are designed to prepare you for the CEOE 178 Dance exam and are aligned with the most current content and format of the actual CEOE 178 Dance exam. Each CEOE 178 Dance question comes with a detailed explanation, helping you gain comprehensive content knowledge while using these new CEOE 178 Dance exam questions.
CSET Dance
This book provides over 200 authentic CSET Dance Practice Exam questions, designed to prepare you thoroughly for the CSET Dance exam by closely matching the current content and format of the official CSET Dance examination. Furthermore, it furnishes a detailed explanation for each CSET Dance question, enabling you to cultivate a comprehensive understanding of the subject as you work through these newly introduced CSET Dance exam questions.
TX PACT 779 Dance
This book offers more than 200 real TX PACT 779 Dance Practice Exam questions, aiming to prepare you for the TX PACT 779 Dance exam while aligning closely with the current content and format of the official TX PACT 779 Dance examination. Additionally, it provides a detailed explanation for each TX PACT 779 Dance question, allowing you to develop comprehensive subject knowledge as you engage with these freshly introduced TX PACT 779 Dance exam questions.
NYSTCE 164 Dance
This book presents over 200 genuine NYSTCE 164 Dance Practice Exam questions, designed to prepare you for the NYSTCE 164 Dance exam while closely aligning with the current content and format of the official NYSTCE 164 Dance examination. Furthermore, each NYSTCE 164 Dance question includes a detailed explanation, enabling you to gain comprehensive subject knowledge as you work through these newly introduced NYSTCE 164 Dance exam questions.
Three Minutes to Heaven
Using dance as a metaphor, this collection of creative writings and stories extends the love and joys of dancing to life in general. The author, as a long-time ballroom dancer, draws on lessons learned in dance and links them to everyday experiences, from the way we perceive things, to discipline, gratitude, courteous behavior, and finding harmonious living in the world we inhabit. Expressed in a way dancers can relate to but have a hard time putting into words, often from a philosophical, spiritual, poetic, or abstract view, and sometimes with humor, this book offers an open invitation to become more mindful of the spirit that innervates our daily lives, all through the lens of ballroom dance. Recommended as inspirational reading one chapter each day during a quiet moment at the beginning or end of the day.
Dances Of To-day
Dances of To-day is a classic guide to the most popular dances of the early 20th century. Written by dance expert Albert W. Newman, this book provides detailed instructions, illustrations, and diagrams for learning or teaching a variety of modern dances, including the Tango, Hesitation, One-Step, Boston, Maxixe, and more. The book also includes historical and cultural context for each dance, making it a valuable resource for dance enthusiasts, historians, and researchers. Dances of To-day is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and practice of modern dance.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Serge Diaghilev
A biography of the visionary Russian impresario Serge Diaghilev, founder of the Ballets Russes. Lifar's first-hand account provides insights into Diaghilev's creative genius, his personal life, and the influence he had on the world of art and culture. This book also includes rare photographs and documents from the Ballets Russes archives.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
