American Dance: The Complete Illustrated History

by Margaret Fuhrer, Alicia Graf Mack (Foreword)

The most comprehensive, beautiful book ever to be published on dance in America. "We look at the dance to impart the sensation of living in an affirmation of life, to energize the spectator into keener awareness of the vigor, the mystery, the humor, the variety, and the wonder of life. This is the function of the American dance." Groundbreaking choreographer Martha Graham deeply understood the power and complexity of dance--particularly as it evolved in her home country. American Dance , by critic and journalist Margaret Fuhrer , traces that richly complex evolution. From Native American dance rituals to dance in the digital age, American Dance explores centuries of innovation, individual genius and collaborative exploration. Some of its stories - such as Fred Astaire dancing on the ceiling or Alvin Ailey founding the trailblazing company that bears his name - will be familiar to anyone who loves dance. The complex origins of tap, for instance, or the Puritan outrage against "profane and promiscuous dancing" during the early years of the United States, are as full of mystery and humor as Graham describes. These various developments have never before been presented in a single book, making American Dance the most comprehensive work on the subject to date. Breakdancing, musical-theater dance, disco, ballet, jazz, ballroom, modern, hula, the Charleston, the Texas two-step, swing--these are just some of the forms celebrated in this riveting volume Hundreds of photographs accompany the text, making American Dance as visually captivating as the works it depicts.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Photography, Art

288 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2014

About the author

Margaret Fuhrer, editor in chief of Dance Spirit magazine, is an arts writer living in New York City. A longtime dancer and choreographer, she has a bachelor's degree in history from Princeton and a master's degree in journalism from New York University.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

WTF??!! I had an unrealistic expectation of this book I suppose. I'm sorry but I got to the photo of the naked men sitting on eachother and that was just freaky? I don't care if it is art, butts and junk getting in the others personal space is not my idea of beauty or emotion. I would never recommend this book to someone else.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covers a broad range of dance across the history of America, from the social dances of Native Americans and early European settlers to the streets and stages of today. There's a good amount of detail on nearly every important player in American dance and a lot of good pictures too.

[Sybil Rivers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked this book out from the library a few weeks ago, primarily because I wanted to look at the beautiful pictures within. However, once I started looking through it, I couldn't help but to read about America's fascinating history of dance. I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever had/or has a passion for the art of dance.

[Lisa Mcbroom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated with photographs on dance through out the ages!