Terpsichore in Sneakers: Post-Modern Dance

Rating:
Summary: Tripping the Post-Modern Light Fantastic
Review: The evolution of the roughly twenty-five years of American post-modern dance is expounded upon in Sally Banes' articulate and comprehensive treatment of the period from 1960 to 1985. Pivotal characters in this history, of which there are several, are examined in detail, with many descriptive passages of definitive works and happenings from the era. Post-modern, originally referring only chronologically (and vaguely) to the period following what we now call historical modern dance, actually has several specific and revolutionary veins of philosophy and aesthetics attached to it. Well researched, Terpsichore in Sneakers has several photographs, choreographers' scores, charts, and notes (including some previously unpublished), a selected bibliography, and an alphabetical list of works by and about seminal contributors to the movement. Fascinating and enlightening reading not only for dancers, but for those interested in American cultural history and anthropology.