Shapes of American Ballet: Teachers and Training before Balanchine
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.34 (520 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0190296690 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 216 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2014-11-21 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
It's been a missing link in studies of the major influences on the creation of our unique, contemporary American ballet. Zeller's fluid and judicious writing brings to light the energy and pathos of early twentieth century dance history."--Judith Chazin-Bennahum, University of New Mexico"The time is ripe to thoroughly dispel the notion that high-quality ballet training was absent from American shores in the first third of the twentieth century. "At last we've a serious examination by Jessica Zeller of seven brave and resourceful ballet teachers from Russia and Italy who came here to initiate and catalyze their ballet traditions. Located in New York City, their schools tempered
CC said Excellent for the early history of American ballet. I am researching a history of ballet in America from 1900-19Excellent for the early history of American ballet CC I am researching a history of ballet in America from 1900-1940. This book is an excellent resource.. 0. This book is an excellent resource.
While George Balanchine is often considered the sole creator of American ballet, numerous European and Russian émigrés had been working for decades to build a national ballet with an American identity. Shapes of American Ballet delves into ballet's struggle to define itself during this rich early twentieth century period, and it sheds new light on ballet's development of an American identity before Balanchine.. Zeller uses hundreds of rare archival documents to illuminate the pedagogies of several significant European and Russian teachers who worked in New York City. Ballet from celebrated Euro-Russian lineages was performed in vaudeville and blended with American popular dance styles, and it developed new characteristics as it responded to the American economy. Despite their prestigious ballet pedigrees, the dance field's exhaustive focus on Balanchine has led to the neglect of their work during the first few decades of the century, and in this light, this book offers a new perspective on Americ
Jessica Zeller is Assistant Professor of Dance at Texas Christian University