The unique career of choreographer Liz Lerman has taken her from theater stages to shipyards, and from synagogues to science labs. In this wide-ranging collection of essays and articles, she reflects on her life-long exploration of dance as a vehicle for human insight and understanding of the world around us. Lerman has been described by the Washington Post as "the source of an epochal revolution in the scope and purposes of dance art." Here, she combines broad outlooks on culture and society with practical applications and accessible stories. Her expansive scope encompasses the craft, structure, and inspiration that bring theatrical works to life as well as the applications of art in fields as diverse as faith, aging, particle physics, and human rights law. Offering readers a gentle manifesto describing methods that bring a horizontal focus to bear on a hierarchical world, this is the perfect book for anyone curious about the possible role for art in politics, science, community, motherhood, and the media. Read more

Anna Halprin, vanguard postmodern dancer turned community artist and healer, has created ground-breaking dances with communities all over the world. Here, she presents her philosophy and experience, as well as step-by-step processes for bringing people together to create dances that foster individual and group well-being. At the heart of this book are accounts of two dances: the Planetary Dance, which continues to be performed throughout the world, and Circle the Earth. The Circle the Earth workshop for people living with AIDS has generated dozens of "scores" for others to adapt. In addition, the book provides a concrete guide to Halprin's celebrated Planetary Dance. Now more than 35 years old, Planetary Dance promotes peace among people and peace with the Earth. Open to everyone, it has been performed in more than 50 countries. In 1995 more than 400 participants joined her in a Planetary Dance in Berlin commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Potsdam Agreements, at the end of World War II. More recently, she took the Planetary Dance to Israel, bringing together Israelis and Palestinians as well as other nationalities. Throughout this book Halprin shows how dance can be a powerful tool for healing, learning and mobilizing change, and she offers insight and advice on facilitating groups. If we are to survive, Halprin argues, we must learn, experientially, how our individual stories weave together and strengthen the fabric of our collective body. Generously illustrated with photographs, charts and scores, this book will be a boon to dance therapists, educators and community artists of all types. Read more

Anna Halprin is one of the most important innovators in the history of modern dance, performance art, and post-modern dance. Moving Toward Life brings together for the first time her essays, interviews, manifestos, and teaching materials, along with over 100 illustrations, providing a rich account of the work that radicalized an entire generation of performers.Since the late 1950s, Halprin has been at the forefront of experiments in dance, from improvisation and street theatre to dances in the environment and healing dances. A brief overview of Halprin's career shows how her work has prefigured — and transfigured — crucial developments in postmodern dance. In the 1960s, Halprin invented the "workshop," and in the wake of the Watts riots, her multiracial company broke boundaries in their confrontational political performances. In the 1970s, she organized "community rituals" to explore how individual creativity feeds positively into group dynamics. These healing social events led to her current work with cancer survivors and people challenging AIDS and their caregivers.Depicting Halprin's deep commitment to social change, Moving Toward Life presents an engaging, critical document of the life of one of the most influential and least known luminaries of American dance. Sally Banes and Janice Ross join Rachel Kaplan in providing introductory essays to sections of the book. Read more

Unmaking Contact interrogates “contact”, understood in Global North dance discourse as a shorthand for the movement discipline of contact improvisation (CI) and its characteristic shifting points of weight-sharing between two or more bodies through physical touch, by attending to power asymmetries that are foundational to this practice.By placing South Asian aesthetics, bodies, discourses, and philosophies on touch at the heart of its interrogation through the lenses of caste, ecology, faith, gender, and sexuality, author Royona Mitra argues for an intersectional, intercultural, and inter-epistemic understanding of contact, that may or may not involve touch. The book shifts and expands understandings of “contact” in dance-making through intercultural epistemologies that examine notions of touch and contact. In this book the term contact signals both a shorthand for CI and a shift away from it to more expansive choreographic considerations. It becomes an apparatus for dismantling power regimes; it is conjured as a catalyst to examine power in social relations; it appears as a fulcrum of ecological relationality; it arises as critical encounters full of generative and transformative potential; and finally, it manifests as community. Read more

¿Alguna vez has sentido cómo la música atraviesa tu cuerpo, convirtiéndose en una poderosa forma de expresión que va más allá de las palabras? "Bachata Sensual: Una Guía Apasionante desde los Orígenes hasta la Actualidad" te invita a descubrir un universo lleno de pasión, conexión y crecimiento personal, donde el baile es el protagonista absoluto.De la mano de Francisco Javier Falcón Muñoz, explorarás en profundidad la bachata sensual, un estilo que ha conquistado corazones en todo el mundo gracias a su combinación única de música romántica, movimientos elegantes y una conexión emocional profunda. Este libro te llevará en un fascinante recorrido por la historia de la bachata desde sus humildes raíces dominicanas hasta su explosión como fenómeno global.En sus páginas encontrarás no solo un análisis histórico y cultural del género, sino también una exploración detallada sobre la técnica y filosofía que lo sustentan. Descubrirás las diferencias fundamentales entre la bachata tradicional, moderna y sensual, entendiendo cómo cada estilo ofrece formas distintas de interpretar y sentir la música. Conocerás además el papel crucial de Korke y Judith, los pioneros que revolucionaron la escena internacional al crear la bachata sensual en Cádiz, España, llevando la expresión corporal a un nuevo nivel de intimidad y elegancia.Este libro va más allá del mero aprendizaje técnico. Aprenderás sobre la importancia de la conexión auténtica entre los bailarines, cómo comunicarte eficazmente en la pista y cómo cada movimiento es una oportunidad para expresar emociones profundas. Francisco Javier pone un énfasis especial en el respeto mutuo y el papel fundamental de la comunidad de bailarines, destacando cómo la bachata sensual fomenta relaciones positivas, inclusivas y duraderas en todo el mundo.Además, se presta atención especial a la comunidad de la "Perla del Mediterráneo", Ceuta, donde la bachata sensual ha generado un vibrante núcleo social que celebra regularmente encuentros, talleres y congresos como el reconocido "Ceuta Latin". En este contexto, el autor comparte experiencias personales, revelando cómo el baile puede transformar la vida y fortalecer lazos comunitarios y personales."Bachata Sensual: Una Guía Apasionante desde los Orígenes hasta la Actualidad" está cuidadosamente diseñado para que tanto principiantes como bailarines avanzados puedan beneficiarse de su contenido, ofreciendo un enfoque motivador y accesible.Una guía práctica para desenvolverte con seguridad en la comunidad de bailarines. Encontrarás consejos útiles y efectivos para que puedas disfrutar plenamente de la experiencia social del baile, fomentando un ambiente de respeto y camaradería.Si deseas adentrarte en un viaje emocionante lleno de ritmo ¡Deja que la magia de la bachata sensual transforme tu vida y únete a esta apasionante aventura!. Read more

The most prestigious ballroom dance competition in the United States.Two dancers need to win.Only one can.Nina Fortunova wasn't supposed to end up almost thirty, divorced, with her dreams of winning shattered. She teams up with Jorge Gonzalez, a hunky and hard-working Latin dancer, to reinvent the flashy Smooth style.When the Chairman of the Judges offers to throw the competition in their favor, Nina must decide how far she will go to win, even if it means losing Jorge.Carly Martindale is doing everything she's been taught not to do—placing her happiness first by dancing with Trey Devereux, the former champion who's returned to competition for mysterious reasons.Carly falls deeply in love with Trey, but beneath his good looks and Southern manners lay a tortured soul. She allows him to control her every move at great risk to her emotional health. How far will Carly go, so Trey and she can win?Co-workers, then friends, and now arch competitors, Nina and Carly face off to determine who will be the winner—in love and in dancing. Read more

Looking to explore the world of Tribal Fusion Dance? Look no further than this comprehensive guidebook that covers everything from the history and origins of the dance style to the future trends and developments shaping its evolution.In this book, you will discover the essential movements, techniques, and vocabulary that make up the Tribal Fusion repertoire, as well as tips for developing your unique style as a dancer. You'll also explore the nuances of movement and expression, as well as how to interpret music and incorporate improvisation into your performances.But this book is more than just a how-to guide; it's a deep dive into the spiritual and ritualistic aspects of Tribal Fusion Dance, and how it can be used as a tool for personal growth, healing, and transformation. You'll explore the role of community, mindfulness, and self-care in your dance practice, as well as how to create a distinctive look and style for your performances through costuming and aesthetics.Whether you're a seasoned dancer or just starting out, this book has something for everyone. With a look at the future trends and developments in the genre, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in exploring the world of Tribal Fusion Dance. So what are you waiting for? Add this book to your collection today and start exploring the world of Tribal Fusion Dance like never before. Read more

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A lively and inspired biography celebrating the centennial of this master choreographer, dancer, and stage director Jerome Robbins (1918–1998) was born Jerome Wilson Rabinowitz and grew up in Weehawken, New Jersey, where his Russian-Jewish immigrant parents owned the Comfort Corset Company. Robbins, who was drawn to dance at a young age, resisted the idea of joining the family business. In 1936 he began working with Gluck Sandor, who ran a dance group and convinced him to change his name to Jerome Robbins. He went on to become a choreographer and director who worked in ballet, on Broadway, and in film. His stage productions include West Side Story, Peter Pan, and Fiddler on the Roof. In this deft biography, Wendy Lesser presents Jerome Robbins’s life through his major dances, providing a sympathetic, detailed portrait of her subject. Read more

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In the world of competitive dance—biased scoring, skimpy costumes, and toxic rivalries are the additional line items of a bill that exceeds thousands of dollars. Time and money are at stake for parents, but reputation is also at risk for students and studios. With no regulation, this third-party industry leaves you asking yourself the same question after every competition: Is it worth it?For Chasta Hamilton, six years of sending dancers to competition was six years too many. She swore off competitive dance and rewrote her curriculum to focus on the whole person within each dancer. In Trash the Trophies, Chasta shows you how she challenged preconceived notions of success in the dance industry and embraced camaraderie, effective leadership, and philanthropic initiative to transform her studio. With the four pillars of her intensive training program—technique, performance, community, and character—you’ll learn how to increase ROI for everyone involved.Dance is a commitment to principles; an art form beyond rankings and judgment. This book will show you how to put meaning back into movement, and joy back into the dance studio. Read more

Often called the Picasso, Stravinsky, or Frank Lloyd Wright of the dance world, Martha Graham revolutionized ballet stages across the globe. Using newly discovered archival sources, award-winning choreographer and dance historian Mark Franko reframes Graham's most famous creations, those from the World War II era, by restoring their rich historical and personal context. Graham matured as an artist during the global crisis of fascism, the conflict of World War II, and the post-war period that ushered in the Cold War. Franko focuses on four of her most powerful works, American Document (1938), Appalachian Spring (1944), Night Journey (1948), and Voyage (1953), tracing their connections to Graham's intense feelings of anti-fascism and her fascination with psychoanalysis. Moreover, Franko explores Graham's intense personal and professional bond with dancer and choreographer Erick Hawkins. The author traces the impact of their constantly changing feelings about each other and about their work, and how Graham wove together strands of love, passion, politics, and myth to create a unique and iconically American school of choreography and dance. Read more

Dancers train for long hours to condition the body to perform stunning acts of artistry through movement expression. Daily tasks outside of dance training can unwittingly compromise the diligent efforts during classwork and rehearsals. The book goes beyond descriptions of the musculoskeletal system to improve performance. The reflective practice of Functional Awareness® teaches strategies to change daily habits in living and demonstrates how these small simple shifts can have a profound effect on ease in action. This new second edition introduces the reader to the reflective practice of Functional Awareness®. It uses foundational information of anatomy and motor learning to guide the reader toward a deeper understanding of their personal body structure. The movement explorations and anatomical visualizations to improve dance skills and provide lifelong tools for body wellness. Each chapter provides essentials in functional anatomy with over 60 beautiful illustrations to buoy the reader through the content. An application to improve specific dance movements using mental training through anatomical visualizations along with tactile body mapping. Finally, each chapter contains a mindful practice to integrate the practices into daily life in order to release unnecessary tension, improve posture, and better support the body outside of dance class and rehearsals. Read more

In this generously illustrated book, world-renowned Yale art historian Robert Farris Thompson gives us the definitive account of tango, "the fabulous dance of the past hundred years–and the most beautiful, in the opinion of Martha Graham.”Thompson traces tango’s evolution in the nineteenth century under European, Andalusian-Gaucho, and African influences through its representations by Hollywood and dramatizations in dance halls throughout the world. He shows us tango not only as brilliant choreography but also as text, music, art, and philosophy of life. Passionately argued and unparalleled in its research, its synthesis, and its depth of understanding, Tango: The Art History of Love is a monumental achievement. Read more

“If your father practiced medicine the way you dance, he’d be under a million lawsuits.”That’s what Miss Lorraine used to tell Kara as a young dancer in between yelling, “Put your heels down!” In dance, criticism is considered a compliment, so as a young dancer with short Achilles tendons, tight hamstrings, and knobby knees she fancied herself a star. Thirty years of leotards and tights later, she had to face some hard truths. Maybe she wasn’t a dancer after all.After graduating from a top conservatory and embarking on her Martha Graham dreams, Kara reluctantly chose to teach Pilates to pay the bills. After initially failing her certification thanks to a nasty margarita hangover, she became one of the most sought after Pilates instructors in Manhattan. She cracked herself up, with what could only be described as Pilates stand-up, poking fun at high maintenance clients and gym culture. But, after hitting many unexpected speed bumps in her dance career, what started as a nothing day job had become her everything. And it wasn’t funny anymore. Underneath that peppy six-pack Pilates persona was a sad little girl fighting for her dream.Putting My Heels Down exposes the harsh realities of life as a dancer but more importantly, the conflict so many of us experience between having a day job and having a dream. You won’t need to know about pliés to relate. Read more

Floating Bones charts the author’s journey into tensegrity, which begins in ballet and culminates in a model for addressing one’s body as a teacher. Tensegrity flips traditional biomechanical models such that instead of support coming from the bones, the bones float, and it is the muscles and other soft connective tissue that provide support for the moving body. Using the model of tensegretic experience, Roses-Thema connects somatics, cognition, rhetoric, and reflective practices detailing the means that constructed approaching the body as a teacher. This study presents the argument for extending the models of thinking to include bodily thinking, by citing how the experiential perspective of tensegrity constructs physical evidence of the rhetorical concept, metis, where the body thinks as it moves. This book will be of great interest to students, scholars, and practitioners of dance, theater, and sociology. Read more

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BodyStories is a book that engages the general reader as well as the serious student of anatomy. Thirty-one days of learning sessions heighten awareness about each bone and body system and provide self-guided studies. The book draws on Ms. Olsen's thirty years as a dancer and teacher of anatomy to show how our attitudes and approaches to our body affect us day to day. Amusing and insightful personal stories enliven the text and provide ways of working with the body for efficiency and for healing. BodyStories is used as a primary text in college dance departments, massage schools, and yoga training programs internationally. Read more

Want to be a better social dancer in less time? Progress faster than your peers and get more out of your practice and dance time? Ever wonder what it’s like when potential partners seek you out?Find out what makes you desirable as a partner, and pay attention to the most important dance elements. Adults focus on different elements than children, and you'll get more from your lessons and practice sessions. You can dance better tomorrow, next week and beyond with the information found in this book.This book is full of practical, actionable, inspiring articles originally written for one of the world’s most popular social dance blogs (www.UnlikelySalsero.com) Voted #1 dance blog in 2013 by the DanceAdvantage.net readers.The insights come from someone widely known as the “World’s Least Likely Dance Instructor.” Don Baarns was a professional musician in his 20’s, studying and working with some of the most recorded musicians in Los Angeles. Watching tens of thousands of dancers over the years while performing, he always said “Someday I’d like to dance too, that seems like fun.” It took him into his mid 40’s to start that pursuit, and his light hearted, fun, self-conscious, real world journey into dancing will benefit your quest greatly.Musicians and dancers follow an amazingly parallel improvement path. Don started teaching private drum lessons around 1977 and has decades of teaching and music experience. From his beginning dance lessons, Don knew he would someday teach this art too, as he quickly recognized the similarities among the elite dancers and musicians. Today, he passes that wisdom along to thousands of dancers in group classes, private lessons, his blog and online videos. These time-tested articles have been created, refined, organized and updated to reflect years of accumulated social dance experience, plus feedback from a huge set of dance friends, partners, blog readers, students, club dancers and other instructors from around the world. As a master instructor himself, today he also coaches many other teachers, both in musicality and in teaching techniques. Most chapters are written as standalone articles, and will contribute to your overall dancing success. They are also written from a very personal point of view; outlining successes, short-term failures and solutions YOU can apply directly to your dancing.All to inspire you and help improve your dancing faster than the crowd. It’s not brain surgery or beyond your reach; it’s the right mindset, the right techniques and some uncommon approaches to excellence learned from years of performing and teaching both music and dance. Read more

This groundbreaking and beautiful study describes two experiments in which Andrea Paz successfully integrated pedagogical eurythmy into high school main lesson blocks on embryology and astronomy. It will be of especial interest to practitioners of Rudolf Steiner’s eurythmy and Waldorf high school teachers, but even more, it deserves to be held up as a shining model of interdisciplinary research and teaching generally. Read more