Dance Writings and Poetry - Softcover

Denby, Edwin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0300069855 ISBN 13: 9780300069853

Publisher: Yale University Press, 1998

Synopsis

Edwin Denby, who died in 1983, was the most important and influential American dance critic of this century. His reviews and essays, which he wrote for almost thirty years, were possessed of a voice, vision, and passion as compelling and inspiring as his subject. He was also a poet of distinction―a friend to Frank O'Hara, James Schuyler, and John Ashbery. This book presents a sampling of his reviews, essays, and poems, an exemplary collection that exhibits the elegance, lucidity, and timelessness of Denby's writings.

The volume includes Denby's reactions to choreography ranging from Martha Graham to George Balanchine to the Rockettes, as well as his reflections on such general topics as dance in film, dance criticism, and meaning in dance.Denby`s writings are presented chronologically, and they not only provide a picture of how his dance theories and reviewing methods evolved but also give an informal history of dance in New York from the late 1930s to the early 1960s. The book―the only collection of Denby's writings currently in print―is an essential resource for students and lovers of dance.

About this title

From Library Journal:

Denby (1903-83), a major dance critic as well as a poet, wrote for Modern Music (1936-42), the New York Herald Tribune (1942-45), and many dance magazines. In his writings, he passionately reflected on the art form, observing the emergence and development of many seminal figures, including George Balanchine, Martha Graham, Leonide Massine, and Frederick Ashton. When read chronologically, his observations on specific performances, dance criticism, and the meaning of dance amount to the creation of a dance aesthetic that he shared with readers for more than 30 years. His literary talents also found an outlet in the writing of librettos and poetry. Although Denby's writings have been compiled before, most notably in Dancers, Buildings, and People in the Street (1965), this volume is the only one currently in print. Denby's significant voice should be added to all collections in which he is not already represented.AJoan Stahl, National Museum of American Art, Washington, DC
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review:

...the selection of dance pieces is very good, and for anyone who has not yet read Denby, this book is a godsend. -- The New York Times Book Review, Rick Whitaker

About this edition

• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0300069855
• ISBN 13: 9780300069853
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 336