Dancing Naturally: Nature, Neo-Classicism and Modernity in Early Twentieth-Century Dance

by A. Carter (Editor), R. Fensham (Editor)

Overview

A renewed interest in nature, the ancient Greeks, and the freedom of the body was to transform dance and physical culture in the early twentieth century. The book discusses the creative individuals and developments in science and other art forms that shaped the evolution of modern dance in its international context.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781349326211
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	01/01/2011
Edition description:	1st ed. 2011
Pages:	179
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x (d)

About the Author

MADGE ATKINSON formerly choreographer, UK (deceased) THERESA JILL BUCKLAND Professor of Performing Arts, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK RAMSAY BURT Professor of Dance History, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK AMANDA CARD Lecturer in Performance Studies, University of Sydney, Australia SUSAN LEIGH FOSTER Distinguished Professor in the Department of World Arts and Cultures, UCLA, USA MICHAEL HUXLEY Researcher and Teacher, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK FIONA MACINTOSH Reader in Greek and Roman Drama, Fellow of St Hilda's College and Director of the Archive of Performances of Greek and Roman Drama, University of Oxford, UK LESLEY MAIN Lecturer in Humphrey Technique and Repertory, Middlesex University, UK KAREN VEDEL Postdoctorate Research Fellow in 'Dance in Nordic Spaces', Tampere University, Finland LIBBY WORTH Senior Lecturer in Theatre Practice, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Notes on Contributors Nature, Force and Variation; R.Fensham Constructing and Contesting the Natural in British Theatre Dance; A.Carter Ideas of Nature, the Natural and the Modern in Early Twentieth-CenturyDance Discourse; M.Huxley & R.Burt The Ancient Greeks and the 'Natural'; F.Macintosh From the Artificial to the Natural Body: Social Dancing in Britain 1900-1914; T.Buckland Dancing Based on Natural Movement; M.A.Johnstone & M.Atkinson Undressing and Dressing Up: Natural Movement's Life in Costume; R.Fensham Nature Moving Naturally in Succession: An Exploration of Doris Humphrey's Water Study ; L.Main Tensing and Relaxing Naturally: Systematic Approaches to Training the Body; S.Foster 'Female Nature', Body Culture and Plastique ; K.Vedel Tethering the Flow: Dialogues between Dance, Physical Culture and Antiquity in Interwar Australia; A.Card Mining Anatomy: Moving Naturally; L.Worth Index

Editorial Reviews

'Foregrounding the work of the British 'natural movement' pioneers, whilst enlivening concepts of 'the natural' and 'natural movement' as they exist within a range of contexts, this exciting collection makes an important contribution to the field of dance studies. Intersecting detailed studies of a range of movement practices with historical and contemporary discourse the book is interdisciplinary in approach and will be of interest to a broad range of readers. Thoroughly enjoyable.'- Vida L Midgelow, University of Northampton, UK

From the Publisher