Milestones in Dance History

This introduction to world dance charts the diverse histories and stories of dancers and artists through ten key moments that have shaped the vast spectrum of different forms and genres that we see today.

Designed for weekly use in dance history courses, ten chosen milestones move chronologically from the earliest indigenous rituals and the dance crazes of Eastern trade routes, to the social justice performance and evolving online platforms of modern times. This clear, dynamic framework uses the idea of migrations to chart the shifting currents of influence and innovation in dance from an inclusive set of perspectives that acknowledge the enduring cultural legacies on display in every dance form.

Milestones are a range of accessible textbooks, breaking down the need-to-know moments in the social, cultural, political, and artistic development of foundational subject areas.

Dana Tai Soon Burgess is the Smithsonian Institution’s first ever choreographer in residence based at the National Portrait Gallery. He is the artistic director of Washington, DC's premiere modern dance company, Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company, now in its 30th season. He is a professor of dance at The George Washington University and host of The Slant Podcast.