America Dances

America Dances chronicles the history and evolution of dance in the United States from colonial times through the mid-20th century. Agnes de Mille draws on her experience as a choreographer and dancer to document the cultural shifts and influences that shaped American dance traditions. The book traces how European dance forms merged with Native American and African American movement traditions to create new styles unique to America. De Mille examines both social dance and theatrical performance, from frontier square dances to the rise of modern dance and ballet companies. De Mille analyzes the contributions of dance pioneers like Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, and George Balanchine, along with the impact of vaudeville, jazz, and Hollywood musicals. The text includes historical records, personal accounts, and technical descriptions of dance styles and choreography. The narrative reveals how dance in America reflected and influenced broader social movements, cultural identity, and artistic innovation throughout the nation's development. Through examining these dance traditions, the book provides insights into how Americans have expressed themselves through movement across generations.

Limited review data exists online for this book. A small number of readers who reviewed it focus on de Mille's historical coverage of American dance from square dancing through ballet and modern dance movements. What readers liked: - Personal anecdotes from de Mille's own dance career - Coverage of both folk and professional dance forms - Historical photos and illustrations included - Writing style described as "engaging" and "conversational" What readers disliked: - Some found the historical sections too brief - Focus weighted more toward ballet than other dance forms - Limited coverage of dance after 1950 Available Ratings: Goodreads: No rating (fewer than 5 reviews) Amazon: No rating (fewer than 5 reviews) WorldCat: No user reviews Note: This book appears to be out of print and reviews are scarce online. Most mentions come from academic citations rather than reader reviews.

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📖 Agnes de Mille pioneered the integration of ballet and modern dance into Broadway musicals, most famously with "Oklahoma!" in 1943. 🎭 The author experienced a debilitating stroke in 1975 but continued writing about dance, completing "America Dances" in 1980 while partially paralyzed. 💃 De Mille's famous ballet "Rodeo" (1942) was groundbreaking for featuring American folk dance and cowboy themes in classical ballet. 🌟 She came from a prominent Hollywood family - her uncle was the legendary filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille, though she deliberately spelled her surname differently. 🎨 Through "America Dances," de Mille traced the evolution of American dance from Native American rituals to modern theatrical productions, showing how dance reflected social changes in American society.