Product Description
Long before Martin Williams, Gene Lees, or Gunther Schuller, Roger Pryor Dodge was writing seriously about jazz. A ballet, vaudeville, and jazz dancer, Dodge turned his critical attention to the music in the 1920s, helping to build the respect jazz has long since achieved.Now, for the first time, the essays and reviews of one of America's first great jazz critics has been collected in one volume.Hot Jazz and Jazz Dance gathers thirty years of Dodge's writing, from 1929 to 1958, offering a remarkable chronicle of the changing music and one writer's ever-growing appreciation of it. The classically trained Dodge came to jazz in the early 1920s; he quickly developed a love for the authentic, non-commercial sounds of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, and scores of now-forgotten musicians.In these essays, we share a highly personal yet professional encounter with the music--in a moving profile, for instance, of Bubber Miley ("the greatest trumpeter in jazz history--in fact, the greatest musician of them all"), who died of tuberculosis at age thirty.He ranges across the musical spectrum, from the Cuban sexteto to the blues of Lead Belly. Dodge was alsoa professional dancer, however, and this collection contains many of his articles on everything from mambo to Nijinsky (the author owned one of the largest and most important collections of photographs of the great dancer's work, and donated it to the New York Public Library) to a short essay on the young Elvis Presley ("without his having all the necessary elements that combine to make a great dancing talent, he does have the stance of a very great performer"). In addition, this volume offers Dodge's significant writing on classical music, including a piece on Baroque playing styles.Almost forgotten today, Roger Pryor Dodge was an essential force in making America's music critics take hot jazz and jazz dance seriously. A must for any jazz fan or student of modern culture, this collection deftly captures Dodge's excitement and critical insight. ... Read more

Product Description
Vision of Modern Dance comprises the selecte d writings of 33 important American modern dancers, from Isa dora Duncan through Martha Graham to Trisha Brown. ' ... Read more

Product Description
The only scholarly book in English dedicated to recent European contemporary dance, Exhausting Dance: Performance and the Politics of Movement examines the work of key contemporary choreographers who have transformed the dance scene since the early 1990s in Europe and the US.
Through their vivid and explicit dialogue with performance art, visual arts and critical theory from the past thirty years, this new generation of choreographers challenge our understanding of dance by exhausting the concept of movement. Their work demands to be read as performed extensions of the radical politics implied in performance art, in post-structuralist and critical theory, in post-colonial theory, and in critical race studies.
In this far-ranging and exceptional study, Andre Lepecki brilliantly analyzes the work of the choreographers:
* Jerome Bel (France)
* Juan Dominguez (Spain)
* Trisha Brown (US)
* La Ribot (Spain)
* Xavier Le Roy (France-Germany)
* Vera Mantero (Portugal)
and visual and performance artists:
* Bruce Nauman (US)
* William Pope.L (US).
This book offers a significant and radical revision of the way we think about dance, arguing for the necessity of a renewed engagement between dance studies and experimental artistic and philosophical practices. ... Read more

Product Description
Since its 1998 publication, the International Encyclopedia of Dance has been the definitive source on this expressive art form, documenting all types of dance around the world and throughout history.Now available in an affordable, attractive paperback edition, this indispensable reference makes a stunning addition to the small library. In six volumes, the Encyclopedia offers authoritative coverage of the full spectrum of dance, including theatrical, ritual dance-drama, folk, traditional, ethnic, and social dance. Extensive historical and cultural overviews of many nations appear along with articles on specific dance forms, music and costumes, performances, biographies of dancers and choreographers, and much more. The set features nearly 2,000 alphabetically arranged articles, an exhaustive index, full cross-references, and more than 2,300 illustrations. Amazing in its scope and dazzling in its diversity, the Encyclopedia is like no other reference work on dance. Accessibly written and arranged for use by a wide audience, it is essential for academic and public libraries, and every arts and humanities aficionado. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Essential for any dance lover's library
This is THE resource for any topic relating to dance. The articles are written by the experts in each field and helpful recommendations for further research and/or bibliographies accompany each entry. The breadth and depth of topics makes the encyclopedia useful to novices and scholars alike, and the many pictures make the volumes as enjoyable to look at as to read.

The price tag for the hardcover edition is hefty, but there is also a cheaper paperback edition. International Encyclopedia of Dance: 6-Volume Set Whether in hardback or paperback, this is a worthwhile investment for libraries, dance schools, and individuals. ... Read more

Product Description
Exploring the commonalities among the arts

Dance Composition: An Interrelated Arts Approach helps students investigate dance movement from a multidisciplinary perspective--something that no other dance text or package does.

This interactive package contains a book, music CD, and companion Web site with these features:

• 28 improvisational exercises that provide perspective on the shared characteristics among the arts for inspiration and motivation for dance making
• 6 in-depth interviews and 24 arts connections that highlight artists from disciplines and cultures around the world
• 3 independent dance projects that encompass numerous elements: music, composition, story adaptation, costumes and props, artist's statements, and reflections on the creative process

The exercises examine traditional and contemporary art forms from around the world and explore ways to physically interpret what is heard, seen, spoken, and emoted through movement experimentation. Through these exercises, students observe a concept, explore it by working independently and watching others, and reflect on it with others. They then create and present a choreographic work based on their explorations and reflections. The choreography is discussed in a final group reflection and personal journal entries in which students can document their findings for future use. The interviews and arts connections will expand students' vision and appreciation of artistic commonalities that exist among dance, music, theater, visual arts, and literary arts.

The music CD, which is bound into the book, contains original compositions that enrich dance exercises and movement exploration assignments. Created by percussionist and electroacoustic composer Barry Prophet, the selections cover a range of styles and dynamics, including rhythmic percussion, jazz, world music, minimalist soundscapes, and textural atmospheres.

The illustrations and photographs in the book provide a starting point for artistic awareness of elements common among the arts. Many of these visual images are available on the companion Web site. To help students and teachers incorporate technology in their creative process, this Web site also provides access to music software, instructions on creating computer-assisted music, a journal entry handout for each activity, self-assessment handouts, and rubrics.

No other art form interacts so pervasively with the other arts than dance. Dance Composition: An Interrelated Arts Approach will help students from secondary school through university levels create artistic work that inspires and empowers both performers and viewers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An integrated presentation perfect for any library strong in dance history
Janice Pomer's DANCE COMPOSITION: AN INTERRELATED ARTS APPROACH pairs an original music CD by Barry Prophet and access to a companion web site with 28 exercises to help students gain perspective on links between dance projects. From 30 interview and arts connections that represent a range of cultures to discussions of visual and music arts, DANCE COMPOSITION is an integrated presentation perfect for any library strong in dance history.
... Read more

Product Description

The second edition of The Routledge Dance Studies Reader offers fresh critical perspectives on classic and modern dance forms, including ballroom, tango, Hip-hop, site-specific performance, and disability in dance.

Alexandra Carter and Janet O’Shea deliver a substantially revised and updated collection of key texts, featuring an enlightening new introduction, which tracks differing approaches to dance studies. Important articles from the first edition are accompanied by twenty new works by leading critical voices. The articles are presented in five thematic sections, each with a new editorial introduction and further reading. Sections cover:

• Making dance
• Performing dance
• Ways of looking
• Locating dance in history and society
• Debating the discipline

The Routledge Dance Studies Reader gives readers access to over thirty essential texts on dance and provides expert guidance on their critical context. It is a vital resource for anyone interested in understanding dance from a global and contemporary perspective.

Product Description
Feminist theory illuminates the radical cultural work of contemporary dance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The burgeoning face of dance theory...
Albright has certainly accomplished a task few dance history scholars have: she gives us a comprehensive approach to dance from a variety of theoretical perspectives.However, I find her narrative style elliptical, and I also find fault with her seemingly overzealous application of theory.Albright applies many of the theorists currently en vogue in academia to dance study, often with great results.On the other hand, the variety of rubrics she uses obscures the most important part of her study: her point of view. Her pairings are stimulating, and certainly evocative.Yet what results is a good amount of speculation, not firmly grounded in rigorous historical/cultural research or in choreographic analysis.I found each chapter glittered with fascinating ideas and concepts which could have been better fleshed out. Albright presents those interested in applying theory to dance with an interesting challenge: how can dance theory change its reputation from being a field of dilettantism to a field of scholarship?I think the first step is to set out a cohesive analytic frame from the start of a study, rather than throwing a hodge-podge of post-structural/post-colonial theory to bat against a corpus composed of two hundred+ years of history and thousands of works.

great book
An essential read for the socially concerned dance lover. This book navigates a tricky path that follows the dancing body through subjectivism and objectivism, and the identities that it cannot escape. Albright delicately manages to show how lines of gender, race, form, ability and other identities can be created and crossed by dances and the bodies that dance them.Recommended to choreographers, dancers, dance watchers and anyone who is interested in social constructs of identity.

this book touched my soul!
this was a very beautiful book, ms.Cooper is a fantastic writer

A soul touching journey
I felt some type of connection to this book as I passed it in the shop. I have been a dance teacher for 13 years, and I have never thought to use dance as Ms. Albright has. Her section on Sex in Dance got many morestudents to join my class. Ms. Albright is an amazing author and some day Iwish to see her dance. Her ideas are on dance are brilliant and artistic.This book has changed my life as a person, artist, but mostly as a dancer. ... Read more

Product Description
For those wanting to shake and shimmy their way to a firmer body, this comprehensive guide to belly dancing offers instructions on how to make the most of the hot belly-dancing-as-fitness trend. In addition to guiding the dancer to a trimmer waist, this how-to book helps put women in touch with their sensuality through the alluring moves of this ancient dance. Specific guidelines for pregnant women who wish to stay strong throughout the nine months and regain their prebaby belly are included. The history and culture of the art is also explored with a celebration of the pulsating music and shimmering costumes that make belly dancing a joy to watch. In Cairo there is a saying: "Every girl is born a dancer." With this guide, all women can be divas of the dance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Simple Yet Useful
This is a little booklet, nicely packaged in quality papers. At first I found it quite simple and might not be as comprehensive as I expect.Though the book does not have huge volume, it is precisely written with some basic facts and history about belly dancing.I particularly love the part which it introduces different kinds of musical instrument and rhythem used in belly dancing.The materials are easy to understand, clearly presented but it provides what I expect to know.A practical guide for belly dance lovers.

Lavish pictures and concise introductory information
A lovely book for your very first purchase in this area.The author is an Australian of Middle Eastern background who has now moved to Egypt, so it is obvious she loves her subject.Such a pretty book in addition to being a good read.A great gift if you know someone who is just starting classes, or if you want to encourage them to!!

A really excellent basic bellydance overview
This was actually a surprising little book. A quick flip through led me to believe this was going to be the typical fluffy intro to belly dance book. The typical history, basic movements, and rah rah mystical female culture sections are offered, but where this book differs from several others I've seen is in the offering of brief but nuanced overviews of several important aspects of dance which are typically glossed over by information sources aimed at the beginner.

The first section I especially appreciated the chapter regarding common instruments with a brief breakdown of the mood generated by, and the motions generally driven by the instruments. This included an explanation of common rhythms (which actually goes beyond Baladi, Masmoudi, and Chiftetelli!) listing regional source, time signatures, "feel", and most common drumming patterns.

The other really interesting section for me was the breakdown of commonly seen dance styles with information on area of origin, and distinguishing characteristics in movement, musical style, and costume.

Belly dance is often offered by beginner books as sort of a homogeneous monolithic thing, when in reality it's a very broad collection of sometimes rather tenuously related styles. I think this book does a really good job of giving the reader a taste of the many different flavors of belly dance available without causing information overload.

One caveat: while the predominantly purple and blue printing in the book is awfully pretty, some of the layout choices leave a bit to be desired. Read it in good lighting.

A Must-have
This book is beautifully done- from the imagery to the content and everything in between I really appreciate Keti's research, insight, and presentation.It is very detailed and interesting... leaves you wanting more for sure but hopefully she will write more on the subject.In fact, she has, if you go to her website [...] you will find some interesting articles on a vast array of fascinating subject matter related to bellydance.From sacred geometry, chakras in dance, and identifying the specific traditions in dance of different regions- she has a lot of great things to share.
I have heard her style of teaching dance criticized but having used her advanced instructional dvd, I would have to say that I think, as far as instruction goes, she is one of the best.She takes all of the intricate elements of dance, theory, tradition, anatomy,geometry and really makes some elegant combinations that showcase a broad spectrum of classic bellydance (with a very "old hollywood" flair that I think is charming).Personally, I think her teaching style is fantastic- it gets even the most callow actually dancing right from the get-go without any wated time and imparts with each combination a little history & stylistic insight.You receive an introduction to her teaching style in this book (her A-Z teaching through combinations).

I would consider this a must-have book for the bellydancer's bookshelf.

entertaining and informative
I actually learned some new tidbits about bellydance through this book! I was just expecting to be a nice coffee table book, which it can be, with the nice pictures, but it actually have some good info. It's not a textbook, of course, so don't expect a whole educational level of information. What's in it, is just really good for general knowledge regarding this form of dance and culture. ... Read more

Product Description
Tracing the African American dance from the Diaspora to the dance floor, this book covers a social history germane not only to the African American experience, but also to the global experience of laborers who learn lessons from hip hop dance. Examining hip hop dance as text, as commentary, and as a function of identity construction within the confines of consumerism, the book draws on popular cultural images from films, commercials, and dance studios. A bibliography, discography, and filmography are included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Thought Provoking
A thought provoking book that gives the reader insight into African American culture and views. The book is far broader than it's title might imply and is not for the casual reader. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Classic, Yet Current
This book is a wonderful book to advise on how and what to do to make a choreography. Even though it was originally written quite a while ago, it give current dancers of all danceforms inspiration to create.

Review of "The Art of Making Dances"
Written by one of the master pioneers of American modern dance, "The Art of Making Dances" was Doris Humphrey's final effort before she died in 1958.Published after her death, the book is a tribute to her legacy of providing a formal methodology of the craft of choreography.The book is an excellent manual for the beginning choreographer by outlining elements of dance and music composition, design, dynamics, rhythm and gesture.She includes choreography assignments to illustrate each compositional element.While somewhat dated in its choreography references, Humphrey offers the reader advice for what to look for in formal choreography making the book an excellent introduction to understanding and appreciating dance for the practitioner as well as the audience member.

Dalienne Majors
Chair of Dance
Berkeley Carroll School
Brooklyn, NY

July 2006

For anyone that loves to dance
I like this book for it's drawing examples and it's heart to heart talk.I can almost hear the writer talking directly at me about how to look at dancing in a different way. . .the heart and emotion of the dance not the techinques that are drummed into us from the time we first put our foot down.This book was recommended to me from a person that studies and teachs ballet.I am a bellydance studen myself but found that it was very helpful in getting over my fears of making my owns dances.Highly recommended for all levels and types of dancers.

not 5 stars for the reason you may think...
as a post-modernist who is always asking "why?" or "who says so?" i see this text as simply brimming with possible areas for undermining aesthetics, theories, and practices in choreography...when i was an undergrad, i learned to choreograph by reading this book. essentially i learned how to make "grocery store list" dances... do i have the "proper" levels?check!do i have "interesting" variations?check!is my music "appropriate" for dance?double check!!have i avoided anything that should be better described with words?ummm... hmmm.well... err... this is where the problems get really big -- yes, i adamantly suggest a beginner learn the material from this book, but only so that the dated notions can be completely thrown away.i give this book 5 stars, because it introduces some of the most important concepts about craft all in one nice, orderly place, but i also give it 5 stars because of the hundreds or thousands of dances that could be made simply to refute the ideas contained herein.yes, get the book... it's essential to your training as a dance maker... yes, throw EVERYTHING away once you've learned it.this text is a bibliography brimming with sources on dance/performance concepts... now that i'm a college professor i'm teaching the choreography 1 class how to use this book as is, but i'm teaching the choreography 4 class how to refute it completely. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
A celebration of contemporary dance, this text features work from photographers around the world. The images of dancers, choreographers and performance artists were conceived as "duets" between artist and photographer, forming a dialogue. A series of essays on five key choreographers who have shaped contemporary dance - Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, Trisha Brown and Mark Morris - lend insight into the distinctive style and personality of each artist. The book is the culmination of the award-winning magazine "Dance Ink", an avant-garde production which attracted a cult following in its years in print (1990-1996) due to its innovative design and approach to dance photography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Beautiful look at dancers told through photography
Dancer Ink is a beautiful collection of photographs encompassing a wide range of dancers, photographers, settings and moods. What I liked about it was the theatrical and vivid look at these people told through pictures.There's not much else to be said. Whether you enjoy creative photography,or the interesting images dancers can lend to a picture, you will enjoythis book. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review
Seasonal Dance delves into the history and significanceof the eight Sabbats, while offering suggestions for celebrating themwith rituals, games, dances, and much more. For those with a bit ofcreativity, Broch and Macler offer guidelines for creatingpersonalized rituals. Part folklore studies, part pagan handbook,Seasonal Dance is a well-researched and exhaustively annotatedreference work that will prove useful throughout the years tocome. --Brian Patterson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Not what I expected...
Seasonal Dance is not what i expected it to be. Before i bought the book, i read most of the reviews on it and most of them said that it was a book w/ GAMES, RECIPES, SONGS, and CHANTS, however, it is not a book that youwould want to buy if this is what you are looking for. Seasonal Dance doeshave Games for two out of the eight sabbats, which anyone who gave anythought could have figured out that bobbing for apples on Samhain andDancing around a Maypole on Beltane would be appropriate. There is alsoonly one recipe for four out of the eight sabbats, and the rest of the bookis mostly rituals (like every other book out there) and then there is theGods and Goddesses chapter too, which takes up the bulk of the book. i amnot saying that Seasonal Dance is a bad book, because it is not, what i amsaying is that if you are looking for a book of GAMES, RECIPIES, AND SONGS,this book is not what you want to buy. i hope this reference will helpeveryone out... blessed be and merry part

The best Wheel of the Year book I've ever seen
Finally. A book that gives simple, straightforward information with well documented resources and plenty of supplimentary material. The appendixes alone are worth the price of admission. With a ritual and historicalperspective for each holiday, and an extra ritual for each cross-quarterholiday, this book is full of simple, useful information. Required readingfor my group's reading list.

A very useful book for non-poets
I found this book delightful. It is not another version of Wicca 101! The authors choose to share what are in my opinion, and the opinion of those that I work with, some very beautiful and meaningful examples of Sabbat rituals. Some of the pieces were written as performance pieces, and they all require more than one person so they are not suitable for solitaries or for all climates. They are however very inspirational for those of us who not blessed with the ability to write poetic ritual ourselves. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Eight full-color paper dolls and 21 exquisite costumes capture the lavish ambience of modern dance. Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, Ruth St. Denis, Ted Shawn, Loie Fuller, Erick Hawkins, Hanya Holm and Katherine Dunham are depicted. Essay on inside covers. Captions.
... Read more