The History of Dance

🔖 The human urge to dance is a fundamental of our history: this is the theme of THE HISTORY OF DANCE, a splendid illustrated survey of the origins and development of dance from ancient times to the present day. Embracing thousands of years of dance and crossing many cultural boundaries, Mary Clarke and Clement Crisp show how dance has always played an important role in every society, whether as ritual with religious or political connotations or as entertainment, participatory or spectacular. They describe a wide range of dances, and how and why they have evolved within their social and historical contexts. Every major form is described, from the extreme refinements of the Japanese Noh theatre and the contemplative dignity of classical Indian dance, to the square dances of the American Middle West and the complex techniques of contemporary competitive ballroom dancing. While the emphasis is on ballet and modern dance in the Western World, the authors recognize the great debt owed to the ancient styles of the East. Richly illustrated, THE HISTORY OF DANCE is essential for everyone attracted by this magical form of art and expression. Whether dealing with dance in temples or ballrooms, or on international stage and screen, this book has something new and enthralling to say. Over 250 illustrations in colour and black and white.