Dance In America: A Reader's Anthology

Dance in America: A Reader's Anthology compiles writings about dance from the colonial era through modern times, featuring works by journalists, poets, critics, and dancers themselves. Editor Mindy Aloff has assembled pieces from authors including Mark Twain, Zora Neale Hurston, Edwin Denby, and Joan Acocella. The collection spans multiple dance forms - from Native American ritual dances to ballet, modern dance, tap, and social dancing. Articles and essays explore performances, technique, cultural movements, and the evolution of dance as an art form in American society. Through personal narratives, reviews, poems and cultural commentary, the anthology documents how dance has reflected and shaped American identity over centuries. Writers capture moments of artistic innovation, social change, and the intersection of dance with politics, race, class and gender in the United States. This panoramic survey reveals dance as a lens through which to understand broader American cultural history, while highlighting the diverse voices and perspectives that have contributed to dance writing and criticism.

Readers describe this anthology as a thorough collection of American dance writing spanning multiple centuries and styles. Several reviews note the book's academic value for dance students and researchers. Likes: - Comprehensive scope of dance history and criticism - Inclusion of lesser-known historical writings - Strong organization by time period - Useful footnotes and context provided Dislikes: - Dense academic tone makes it less accessible for casual readers - Some reviewers wanted more photographs/illustrations - A few mentions of uneven quality between selections Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (21 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (8 reviews) Notable reader comments: "Perfect resource for dance history courses" - Amazon reviewer "Could use more diverse voices from modern dance" - Goodreads review "The annotations help make historical context clear" - Library Journal reader review The book appears most popular with dance scholars and students rather than general audiences.

Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet by Jennifer Homans A chronicle of ballet's evolution from its origins in the Renaissance European courts to its global presence in modern times.

Dancing Through History by Joan Cass The development of western theatrical dance unfolds through key figures, performances, and social movements from medieval times through the twentieth century.

Ballet and Modern Dance: A Concise History by Jack Anderson Dance traditions trace their paths from European courts through American stages, documenting the interplay between classical and contemporary forms.

No Fixed Points: Dance in the Twentieth Century by Nancy Reynolds, Malcolm McCormick The transformation of dance across cultures during the twentieth century emerges through performers, choreographers, and artistic movements.

America Dancing: From the Cakewalk to the Moonwalk by Megan Pugh The evolution of American dance styles reveals the nation's social history through its street dances, stage performances, and popular entertainment.

🌟 Dance historian Mindy Aloff spent over 20 years teaching at Barnard College, sharing her expertise with generations of students while curating this comprehensive anthology. 🎭 The collection spans nearly 300 years of American dance writing, from colonial times through the early 21st century. 💫 Among the 100+ featured writers are unexpected names like Mark Twain and Zora Neale Hurston, who contributed fascinating perspectives on dance in American culture. 🎨 The anthology includes rare historical accounts of Native American ritual dances, observed and documented by early European settlers. 🎬 Beyond traditional dance criticism, the book features movie reviews, poems, and personal essays that capture how dance has been interpreted across different American art forms and media.