Dr. Renee Rothman, a dancer and cultural anthropologist, share 13 books that address the human meaning and experience of dancing in cultures throughout the world. Selected because they are easy for general audiences to read, these texts cover dance throughout history, Modern Dance, Jazz Dance, and Social Dance in America, Latin Dance, Middle Eastern Dance, and dance in China. Expand your dance library or your horizons with this reading list.
Community
Your Story In Dance, Haiku, or Prose
Recently I exchanged “stories” with a young ballet dancer. In a few paragraphs we were each able to summarize and hit the highlights of our dance backgrounds, life and training pathways while also revealing something of ourselves. The things she’s accomplished and experienced are compelling not because they are uniquely spectacular but unique to her, interpreted by her, shared by her. Whether you elect to focus your tale on dance or on your entire life’s journey, I’d simply like to invite your to share your story with the rest of us in a medium of your choice.
Give The Gift Of Dance In Your Community
Before your big performance day (and after), add some informal performances to your schedule. Not only is it good practice and experience for your students, it’s great advertising, and most importantly, a wonderful gift to the community. Stacey suggests ways to encourage parent involvement and how to make the most of your outreach come recital time.
Women in Dance: Undervalued in Supporting AND Leadership Roles?
As Artistic Director of Ballet Memphis, Dorothy Gunther Pugh is one of only a handful of women at the helm of ballet companies in the United States, where leadership roles (particularly for large budget organizations) are primarily filled by men. In her contribution for Dance Advantage, Ms. Pugh addresses what she’s witnessed as a woman in the field and points out imbalances during the training years which discourage young women from looking beyond the corps and moving into leadership roles.
Hope Dances For Children With Special Needs
![[image] Dance instructor Michael Patterson, Brian and his son, Dominic [image]](https://www.danceadvantage.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/mengini-hope-dances-160x200.jpg)
Brian’s photography has been published on Dance Advantage, in most dance periodicals, as well as in the book, When Men Dance: Choreographing Masculinities Across Borders. Currently, he is working on a blog, Barre Boys, which spotlights men in ballet, and will produce accompanying live events featuring all male performers. Married with two children, Dominic, 9 and Michela, 7, Brian is a firm believer of giving back and giving voice and opportunity to those who don’t have one. I had a chat with Brian about another new and growing project he has in the works, Hope Dances, an initiative that aims to bring the benefits of dance to kids with special needs.
One With The Music: Accompanying Dancers Part Two
The studio I work at has three studios – one large and two small — as well as a small theatre space that seats about 100 people. The two smaller studios and the theatre space have an upright acoustic piano, and the larger studio has a baby grand piano. I actually prefer to play on the upright acoustic pianos as I find their tone more appealing – not to mention the fact that I can get more emotion out of these pianos!
