No Fixed Points: Dance in the Twentieth Century

No Fixed Points traces the evolution of dance through the twentieth century, spanning ballet, modern dance, post-modern dance, and musical theater. The book covers major choreographers, dancers, companies and artistic movements across Europe and America from 1900-2000. The authors examine the cultural and historical contexts that shaped dance during this period, including two world wars, social upheavals, and technological changes. Key figures like Martha Graham, George Balanchine, and Merce Cunningham are analyzed alongside lesser-known but influential artists. Photos, performance reviews, and firsthand accounts bring the century's most significant dance works and innovations to life. The text moves chronologically through different eras while drawing connections between concurrent developments in various dance forms and geographic regions. This comprehensive history reveals how dance both reflected and influenced broader cultural shifts, from modernism to postmodernism, serving as a lens through which to view twentieth century artistic evolution. The authors present dance as an art form that continually reinvented itself while maintaining ties to tradition.

Readers value this as a comprehensive reference text on 20th century dance, though many note its massive size (over 900 pages) makes it better suited for research than casual reading. Liked: - Detailed coverage of both major and lesser-known dance figures - Strong sections on American modern dance - High-quality photographs and illustrations - Clear chronological organization - Inclusion of social dance forms alongside concert dance Disliked: - Dense academic writing style - European dance coverage less thorough than American - Some readers found technical terminology challenging without prior dance knowledge - Index could be more detailed given the book's scope Ratings: Goodreads: 4.35/5 (34 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (15 ratings) Reader quote: "An encyclopedic achievement that demands time and attention. Not a quick read but rewards careful study." - Goodreads reviewer Used frequently as a university textbook for dance history courses according to multiple academic reviewers.

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🌟 The book spans nearly 900 pages and includes over 900 photographs, making it one of the most comprehensive visual records of 20th-century dance ever published 🎭 Nancy Reynolds danced professionally with the New York City Ballet under George Balanchine and brings first-hand experience to her analysis of modern dance evolution 📚 The authors trace dance history through major world events, including how both World Wars significantly influenced choreographic themes and movement styles 🎨 The book reveals how Martha Graham's revolutionary technique was partially inspired by breathing exercises she learned while recovering from the Spanish Flu pandemic 🌍 Beyond Western dance forms, the text explores how African-American dance traditions fundamentally shaped American modern dance, challenging previous Eurocentric dance histories