Dance: Books

"This introduction to world dance charts the diverse histories and stories of dancers and artists through ten key moments that have shaped the vast spectrum of different forms and genres that we see today. Designed for weekly use on dance history courses, ten chosen milestones move chronologically from the earliest indigenous rituals and the dance crazes of Eastern trade routes, to the social justice performance and evolving online platforms of modern times. This clear, dynamic framework uses the idea of migrations to chart the shifting currents of influence and innovation in dance from an inclusive set of perspectives that acknowledge the enduring cultural legacies on display in every dance form. Milestones are a range of accessible textbooks, breaking down the need-to-know moments in the social, cultural, political and artistic development of foundational subject areas"-- Provided by publisher.

"Best remembered for his role as the Scarecrow in the 1939 MGM musical The Wizard of Oz, Ray Bolger led a rich and extraordinary career in the decade before and more than four decades after the creation of the film. 'Ray Bolger: More Than a Scarecrow' is the first biography of this classic American entertainer, covering the luminous and forgotten career of the eccentric dancer outside of his burlap mask. The product of a fragmented, working-class Boston Irish family, Bolger learned tap and eccentric dance steps as solace for a difficult life before running away to repertory theater and vaudeville. From there, he would go on to become a Broadway star, a contract player at Hollywood's major studios, one of the first performers to tour the South Pacific for the USO, a Tony Award winner, an early sitcom star, and the opening headliner of the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas. Using unprecedented access to Bolger's papers and many never-before-published photographs, Ray Bolger: More Than a Scarecrow pieces together the lost story of an itinerant hoofer who survived and thrived during the major media changes of the twentieth century and established himself as a staple of American pop culture."--Book jacket.

'In a single volume, Dance in Cuba is the one and only complete reference. It explores all the currents and genres of Cuban dance, from their beginnings to today: from the Ballet Nacional de Cuba to Danza Contempóranea de Cuba; from the many dance companies - such as the extraordinary Acosta Danza - to entertainment dancing. All the facets of the fascinating universe of rhythms and "born to dance” artists of the Big Island.'--Publisher description

"In the early twentieth century, American ragtime and the Parisian tango fuelled a dancing craze in Britain. Public ballrooms were built throughout the country, providing a glamorous setting for dancing. The new English style, defined in the 1920s and followed by the films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the 1930s, ensured that ballroom dancing continued to be the most popular British pastime until the 1960s, rivalled only by the cinema. This book explores the vibrant history of ballroom and Latin dancing: the dances, lavish venues, competitions and influential instructors. It also traces the decline of couple dancing and its resurgence in recent years with the hugely popular TV shows Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars."--Dust jacket.

"Mindy Aloff, a journalist, an essayist, and a dance critic, analyzes dance as the ultimate expression of human energy and feeling. From her personal anecdotes, her engaging collection of stories about dance from around the world, or her description of the captivating photograph by Helen Levitt of two children dancing, which she sees as one embodiment of the mystery and joy that dancing can evoke, Aloff's exploration of the aesthetic, social, and spiritual impacts of dance will prove spellbinding. Aloff takes us on a journey through various forms of dance--rituals, religious observances, storytelling, musical interpretations--to show why dance matters to human beings. Interlaced with personal experiences, this book builds on analysis to reveal the intimate relationship we have with dance--personal, spiritual, soul-searching, medicinal, and entertaining. The ideas speak to both specialist and general readers."-- Book jacket.

"In the early days of swing dancing, Frankie Manning stood out for his moves and his innovative routines; he created the "air step" in the Lindy hop, a dance that took the U.S. and then the world by storm. In this autobiography, the choreographer and Tony Award winner (Black and Blue) Frankie Manning recalls how his first years of dancing as a teenager at Harlem's Savoy Ballroom led to his becoming chief choreographer and a lead dancer for "Whitey's Lindy Hoppers," a group that appeared on Broadway, in Hollywood musicals, and on stages around the globe. Manning brings the Swing Era vividly back to life with his recollections of the crowded ballrooms, and of Lindy hoppers trying to outdo each other in spectacular performances. His memories of the many headliners and film stars, as well as uncelebrated dancers with whom he shared the stage, create a unique portrait of an era in which African American performers enjoyed the spotlight, if not a star's prerogatives and salary." "With co-author Cynthia R. Millman, Manning traces the evolution of swing dancing from its emergence in Harlem through the post-World War II period, until it was eclipsed first by rock and roll and then disco. When swing made a comeback, Manning's 30-year hiatus ended. He has been performing, choreographing, and teaching ever since."--Jacket.

"Misty Copeland made history as the first African-American principal ballerina at the American Ballet Theatre. Her talent, passion, and perseverance enabled her to make strides no one had accomplished before. But as she will tell you, achievement never happens in a void. Behind her, supporting her rise was her mentor, Raven Wilkinson, who had been virtually alone in her quest to breach the all-white ballet world when she fought to be taken seriously as a Black ballerina in the 1950s and 60s. A trailblazer in the world of ballet decades before Misty's time, Raven faced overt and casual racism, hostile crowds, and death threats for having the audacity to dance ballet. The Wind at My Back tells the story of two unapologetically Black ballerinas, their friendship, and how they changed each other--and the dance world--forever. Misty Copeland shares her own struggles with racism and exclusion in her pursuit of this dream career and honors the women like Raven who paved the way for her but whose contributions have gone unheralded. She celebrates the connection she made with Raven, the only teacher who could truly understand the obstacles she faced, beyond the technical or artistic demands. A beautiful and wise memoir of intergenerational friendship and the impressive journeys of two remarkable women, The Wind at My Back captures the importance of mentorship, of shared history, and of respecting the past to ensure a stronger future."-- Provided by publisher.

She was born Virginia Katherine McMath, but the world would come to know her? and love her? as Ginger Rogers: Broadway star, Academy Award-winning actress, and the ultimate on-screen dancing partner of the inimitable Fred Astaire. In Ginger: My Story, the legendary entertainer shares the triumphs of a remarkable career that began when she won a Texas dancing contest at age fourteen; the joys and heartbreaks of her five marriages; her relationships with some of Hollywood's major leading men, including Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, and damaged daredevil billionaire Howard Hughes; and the strength of her religious convictions that got her through thick and thin.

The international success of Riverdance has focused new attention on Irish dance, which is the subject of this first history of what has become an international cultural phenomenon. Tracing the origins of dance back to early medieval accounts, this volume also charts the developments of the 18th century, exploring how dance played a vital role in the formation of a new national culture.

"A selection of the unpublished writings, journals, and letters of Jerome Robbins, with additional texts by Amanda Vaill"-- Provided by publisher.

"Terry L Goedel is a nine-time Native American, World Hoop Dance Champion. As a young man living on the Tulalip Reservation in Washington State, he struggled to identify his Native Roots. Watching three hoop dancers for the first time in 1971 he felt a light that changed his perception of who he was. He followed that light and, has been sharing his hoop dancing story on stages around the world for the past fifty-two years. Take a fascinating journey with Terry as he explores his Native American roots and proudly embraces his cultural identity."--provided by publisher.

"From a desperately poor village in northeast China, to a career that took him across the world, this is the incredible story of Li Cunxin -- a story that almost vanished, like so many other peasants' lives, amid revolution and chaos. At age eleven, Li was chosen by Madame Mao's cultural delegates to be taken from his rural home and brought to Beijing, where he would study ballet. In 1979, the young dancer arrived in Texas as part of a cultural exchange, wary of class enemies and prepared to "serve glorious communism." It didn't take long for him to fall in love with America -- and with an American woman. Two years later, through a series of events worthy of the most exciting cloak-and-dagger fiction, he defected to the United States, where he quickly became known as one of the greatest ballet dancers in the world. This is the remarkable story of his journey -- a heartening rags-to-riches story [and] a fascinating glimpse into the history of Chinese-U.S. relations and the dissolution of the Communist ideal in the life of one fortunate individual."--Page 4 of cover.

"The New York Times called him "the Shakespeare of dancing." He appeared on the cover of Time magazine. Arguably the greatest choreographer who ever lived, George Balanchine was one of the cultural titans of the twentieth century. His radical approach to choreography reinvented the art of dance and his richly imaginative ballets made him a legend. Yet, Balanchine's life was as dramatic as his art, coinciding with some of the biggest historical events of his time. Born in Russia under the last Czar, Balanchine experienced the upheavals of World War I, the Russian Revolution, World War II, exile, and the Cold War. He co-founded the New York City Ballet and revolutionized dance in America, pressing it to the forefront of modernism and making it serious and popular art. A man of many muses, Balanchine was married five times and consumed by other loves in between. Both the passions that animated him and the difficulties of his life--personal losses, bouts of ill health, and dark moods of despair--resonate in his more than 100 ballets, which speak of love, loss, mortality, and the transformative power of art. Nearly forty years after his death the full scale of Balanchine's achievement remains unexplored. Jennifer Homans, who studied with Balanchine and has had unprecedented access to his papers and many of those who knew him, has researched every facet of Balanchine's life and times. As much a biography as a vast history of the twentieth century through the lens of one of its greatest artists, Mr. B is the definitive biography by ballet's definitive writer"-- Provided by publisher.

"Rupert Christiansen, a renowned dance critic and arts correspondent, presents a sweeping history of the Ballets russes and of Serge Diaghilev's dream of bringing Russian art and culture to the West"-- Provided by publisher.An art critic and connoisseur, Serge Diaghilev had no training in dance or choreography, but he had a dream of bringing Russian art, music, design and expression to the West, and a mission to drive a cultural and artistic revolution. The sights and sounds of the Ballets Russes were called "barbaric" by the Parisian press, but its radical style usurped the entrenched mores of traditional ballet and transformed the European cultural sphere at large. On the 150th anniversary of Diaghilev's birth, Christiansen provides a reassessment of the Ballets Russes and the Russian Revolution in twentieth-century art and culture. -- adapted from jacket

In Los Angeles, night after night, the city's salsa clubs become social arenas where hierarchies of gender, race, and class, and of nationality, citizenship, and belonging are enacted on and off the dance floor. In an ethnography filled with dramatic narratives, Cindy García describes how local salseras/os gain social status by performing an exoticized L.A.--style salsa that distances them from club practices associated with Mexicanness. Many Latinos in Los Angeles try to avoid "dancing like a Mexican," attempting to rid their dancing of techniques that might suggest that they are migrants, poor, working-class, Mexican, or undocumented. In L.A. salsa clubs, social belonging and mobility depend on subtleties of technique and movement. With a well-timed dance-floor exit or the lift of a properly tweezed eyebrow, a dancer signals affiliation not only with a distinctive salsa style but also with a particular conceptualization of latinidad.

"In this well-illustrated work, Pauline Koner “traces the course” of her remarkable career from her days as a student of Michel Fokine in the 1920s, through further studies with Angel Cansino and the brilliantly influential Michio Ito, to a period as a dance soloist before World War II that make her reputation. After the war she entered a productive collaboration with Doris Humphrey, and then began the epochal performances with Jose Limon. She continued to perform until 1972, and her influence as a teacher and choreographer is still widely felt. Her book is an instructive and charming chronicle of this remarkable career, as well as a record of performances and interpretations that have gone far to mold modern dance into its present state of grace."

Presents the voices and memories of thirty American tap dance stars, and includes a comprehensive listing of tap acts, recordings, and films.

"A history of the shag, South Carolina's state dance, and of the Society of Stranders, an organization of of dance clubs devoted to the shag and its culture"-- Provided by publisher.

"From its modest beginnings in the 1960s in a Harlem church basement, to its meteoric rise to international fame, the Dance Theatre of Harlem ignited the world with one simple, still-revolutionary statement: All can do ballet. Into the 21st century, as the world, and the country, continue their historical struggles and triumphs, the story of this haven for dancers of all colors and backgrounds resonates more than ever. Here, for the first time, is the definitive portrait of the one-of-a-kind community dance company that reflected -- and shaped -- our times, and whose enduring principle continues to inspire the future. With exclusive backstage stories from its legendary dancers and staff, and unprecedented access to its archives, Dance Theatre of Harlem is a striking chronicle of the company's amazing history, its fascinating daily workings, and the visionaries who made its legacy. Here you'll discover how the company's founders -- African-American maestro Arthur Mitchell of George Balanchine's New York City Ballet, and Nordic-American Karel Shook of The Dutch National Ballet -- created timeless works that challenged Eurocentric mainstream ballet head-on -- and used new techniques to examine ongoing issues of power, beauty, myth, and the ever-changing definition of art itself. Gaining prominence in the 1970s and 80s with a succession of triumphs -- including its spectacular season at the Metropolitan Opera House -- the company also gained fans and supporters that included Nelson Mandela, Stevie Wonder, Cicely Tyson, Misty Copeland, Jessye Norman, and six American presidents. Dance Theatre of Harlem details this momentous era as well as the company's difficult years, its impressive recovery as it partnered with new media's most brilliant creators -- and, in the wake of its 50th anniversary, amid a global pandemic, its evolution into a worldwide virtual performance space. Alive with stunning photographs, including many from the legendary Marbeth, this incomparable book is a must-have for any lover of dance, art, culture, or history." -- Provided by publisher.

The first comprehensive, fully documented history of a uniquely American art form, exploring all aspects of the intricate musical and social exchange that evolved from Afro-Irish percussive step dances like the jig, gioube, buck-and-wing, and juba to the work of such contemporary tap luminaries as Gregory Hines, Brenda Bufalino, Dianne Walker, and Savion Glover.

This book provides a lavishly illustrated introduction to the world of ballet: lucidly and concisely it explains the conventions of ballet movement, the basic vocabulary of the classroom steps and the artistry of the stage performances. It outlines a brief history of the dance from the earliest times to the present day and gives a complete background of the ballet scene, its dancers, choreographers and musicians. -- From publisher's description.

The reality is dancers of all ages, types, and skill levels often experience incredible physical and psychological stress and have traditionally bore their pain in stoic silence.

"In this much needed new book, Dance Magazine's Linda Hamilton offers dancers the same type of advice and understanding they have come to trust from her popular monthly column. Psychologist Hamilton--a former dancer with New York City Ballet under the legendary George Balanchine--offers a complete resource for coping with the day to day pressures of being a dancer. Page after page is filled with the insight that can only come from a person who has been intimately involved in the world of dance." - Publisher description

A show-by-show analysis of one of Broadway's preeminent American choreographers, the angular and jazzy Bob Fosse.

Describes major body positions and movements in ballet as well as the muscles involved and explains techniques for training male and female dancers.

The art of tap dancing is explained here in easy-to-understand terms for students, teachers, and parents. Basic, intermediate, and advanced steps and routines are described in detail, and information on costumes, recital programs, and the operation of a dance studio is amply provided. Forty-four photographs and sketches clarify the text so that students of every level can follow instructions easily. Particularly useful to classroom work is the advice on stage design and the detailed information about phonograph records that are especially suited to tap dancing. Unique in the field, this manual covers the subject thoroughly and expertly—a welcome guide to anyone interested in tap dancing.

Looks at the history of dance, dance around the world, and influential dancers and choreographers of the past and present.

Comments, insight, and advice from 14 professional Broadway performers on how to survive New York on a shoe-string budget, how to present a professional image, landing your first Broadway job, the unique rituals of dance auditions and much more.

"Studies the ballet's evolution as an art form, focusing on the influential personalities who have contributed to its modern development." - Amazon description

"Tapworks, the tap dictionary, with more than 1,500 up-to-date entries, has been painstakingly researched by its nationally respected author, Beverly Fletcher. Each tap term is concisely defined in all its variations. Clear directions on "How to Execute" are given. Other names for steps are referenced." "Tapworks starts with a history of tap from the earliest beginnings to current trends, blending it with social history. Included are brief biographies of the dancers and performers who have profoundly affected the dance world." "The Reference Manual section is a special asset to dance teachers. Beginning with stage direction and theater terminology, it defines the different types of tap dances and lists source materials. The teaching instructions are invaluable - with specific plans for bringing students through the levels of beginner to advanced tapping." "Tapworks has been accepted by Dance Masters of America as its official reference manual."--Jacket.

This versatile text and reference provides 583 imagery exercises designed to improve dance technique, artistic expression, and performance. With Dance Imagery for Technique and Performance, you'll explore imagery through 195 improvisational exercises designed to create and communicate different movements; find 314 imagery exercises you can apply during dance class to improve technique; learn how to use imagery to convey information about steps and to clarify the intent and content of a movement; and discover 34 imagery exercises to restore and regenerate the body through massage, touch, and stretching.

"Teaching dance is an activity that is both a rigorous discipline which involves many years of study and a deeply personal expression. Throughout the years, from the time I first encountered the Spectrum, I've realized more and more what an amazing pedagogical tool it is for dance as an art form. The Spectrum will help dance teachers address many issues, including the following: - For the beginning teacher, "Did I meet my objectives? How can I judge how well I did?" - For the advanced teacher, "How can I encourage initiative and make students more self-motivated?" - For the college or university teacher, "How do I help my colleagues in other disciplines (and administration) understand dance as an academic discipline? What do I put in my tenure and promotion portfolio?" - For teachers with adult beginner classes, "How do I introduce my adult learners to basic movement material without 'teaching down' to them, to recognize their cognitive level and maturity?" - For teachers in private studios, "How can I teach so that I reach every student, keep students coming back for more classes, and thus keep enrollment (and my business) up?" - When teaching large classes, "How can I provide feedback for every student in the class and still keep the class moving?" Whether you are facing a class of students for the first time or are an experienced teacher, whether you teach children or adults, whether in a recreational setting or college, you will find useful information here. Supported by illustrations, examples, sample lesson plans, criteria sheets, activity suggestions and discussion questions, this work is designed for use as a textbook for student teachers and a resource for the professional teacher..." - Amazon description

A biography of the American ballerina describing the high-pressure world of dance, her love affairs, clashes with teachers, descent into cocaine addiction, anorexia, and confinement in a mental institution before fighting her way back to a triumphant return.

Written for the adult beginner, this book is a well-illustrated introduction to the fundamentals of ballet technique, as well as the history of ballet.

This Technical Manual has long been one of the most popular and effective ballet reference guides. Completely revised and updated, this third edition is virtually a new work and should be owned by every student, dance teacher, choreographer, and ballet enthusiast--even those who purchased the second edition. Extensive revision, expansion, and the inclusion of more than 300 new terms have added immeasurably to the value of this concise, definitive manual. Moving from "abstract ballet" and "adage, adagio" to "working leg" and "wrapped position," the book fully describes and defines over 1,100 ballet steps (saul de chat, jeté enveloppé, failli, entrechat six, etc.), movements and poses (arabesque, épaulement, attitude, en arrière, retiré, à terre, dégagé, etc.), and other expressions and concepts. For each, first a phonetic transcription is provided, then a literal translation, and finally an explanation of how the step is performed, the pose captured, or the movement executed, of how the concept fits in with actual ballet dancing, or of the purpose or function of the idea. A pronunciation guide, cross-references to alternate names for similar steps and positions that vary from the Russian to the French or Italian schools, and a bibliography are all invaluable aids. But the most important supplement is the 15-page pictorial section, drawn by the author, who is both a successful ballet teacher and dancer. Keyed to the dictionary (and vice-versa), these diagrams show clearly the exact foot, leg, arm, and body positions for the proper execution of many of the more common ballet steps and movements. This essential and easy reference is a must for every teacher, aspiring dancer, and ballet class.

Discover more than 70 of the most famous ballet dances, from The Nutcracker and Swan Lake to The Rite of Spring. Learn the stories behind renowned companies such as The Royal Ballet and the Bolshoi Ballet. Explore the lives and achievements of dancers across the centuries, such as Margot Fonteyn, Carlos Acosta, and Darcey Bussell. Meet composers and choreographers, from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to Matthew Bourne. From its origins at court and the first national ballet companies, to the contemporary scene and extraordinary venues that stage the productions, this book covers an impressive history of ballet and provides an invaluable overview of the subject. Filled with rarely seen photographs covering all the key figures, pieces, and performances, and compelling facts about each dance--the sources they draw from, their production history, and their reception over time-- Amazon.

"Franklin Stevens studied ballet for five years before he turned to writing. In Dance as Life , he describes spending five months spent with the American Ballet Theatre, observing both the dancers' studies and the background of ballet itself." - Amazon description

In more than 2,600 photographs dancers demonstrate in sequence every movement in the classical repertoire from the most basic ballet to the advanced.