The Modern Dance: Seven Statements of Belief

by Selma Jeanne Cohen (Editor), Erick Hawkins (Contributor)

Seven Statements of José Limón, Anna Sokolow, Erick Hawkins, Donald McKayle, Alwin Nikolais, Pauline Koner, Paul Taylor

Jose Limon, Anna Sokolow, Erick Hawkins, Donald McKayle, Alwin Nikolas, Pauline Koner, Paul Taylor.

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of statements by seven choreographers (Jose Limon, Anna Sokolow, Erick Hawkins, Donald McKayle, Alwin Nikolais, Pauling Koner, and Paul Taylor) explores the meaning of modern dance to each and offers a brief history of the development of modern dance. I enjoyed reading the dancers' writings about their personal artistic processes and their contemporary perspectives of 1960's modernism. Although the book does include some great pictures, I feel like I would have appreciated it more if I had actually seen performances of the artists' choreography, so I mainly recommend it to those who already have some understanding of dance history or who are big fans of these artists' works.

[kari trail · Rating 3 out of 5]

i have no clue why i decided to read this but it was withdrawn from the calarts library and i felt like learning something completely unfamiliar to me. and that it was! some interesting bits here and there. obviously outdated in ways but it’s kind of wonderful to hear the poetics of choreographers, like josé limón for example: “i want to dig beneath empty formalisms, displays of technical virtuosity, and the slick surface; to probe the human entity for the powerful, often crude beauty of the gesture that speaks of man’s humanity.”