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Book Review: How They Became Famous Dancers – A Dancing History

April 26, 2017 by 4dancers

by Catherine L. Tully

This lovely book was sent to us by Anne Dunkin (the author) for review, and it’s easy to recommend. Dunkin has assembled a very interesting resource that would serve as a great tool for those teaching middle school, or even to have on hand at a dance studio library. It’s also a good read, just to add to your own personal knowledge of dance. It tells the stories of 12 dancers (6 male and 6 female) from various parts of the world, focusing on their childhoods and rise to prominence as a dancer.

Many different places are represented, including Mexico, Japan, India, Africa, and the United States. Every chapter begins with the dancer’s background, and outlines their journey to becoming a dancer. The information is coupled with black and white photographs, as well as a “Create A Dance” section at the end of the chapter, which is designed to give children a feel for the type of movement that particular dancer was known for. The dancers that are included in this book span a variety of different genres, ranging from ballet to Bharata Natyam, to Modern dance. There is even a little map in the beginning that shows where each dancer was from for reference.

This unique and interesting approach makes the book an especially good resource for teachers, since material of this nature is often difficult to find. The chapters lend themselves to either being used in their entirety, or as rich material to add to a lecture. The dancers that are covered here include:

  • Louis XIV
  • John Durang
  • Marie Taglioni
  • William Henry “Juba” Lane
  • Anna Pavlova
  • Rudolph Laban
  • Doris Humphrey
  • Michio Ito
  • Mrinalini Sarabhai
  • Pearl Primus
  • Amalia Hernandez
  • Arthur Mitchell

I’ve been in the field for over 40 years, and I learned quite a bit from reading this book myself. Don’t hesitate to add it to your library!

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Filed Under: Books & Magazines, Reviews Tagged With: a dancing history, Amalia Hernandez, anna pavlova, Anne Dunkin, arthur mitchell, ballet book, doris humphrey, How They Became Famous Dancers, John Durang, Louis XIV, Marie Taglioni, Michio Ito, Mrinalini Sarabhai, Pearl Primus, rudolph laban, William Henry "Juba" Lane

10 Questions With…Erin Carlisle Norton

May 1, 2012 by Ashley David

Today we have 10 questions with…Erin Carlisle Norton, Artistic Director of The Moving Architects…

1. What is your background in dance?

I’m originally from upstate New York and spent my growing up years in Pittsburgh, PA training at the Civic Light Opera Academy before attending VA Commonwealth University to study dance, and graduating from The Ohio State University (OSU) with a BFA in Dance.  I’ve had formal training in ballet, jazz, modern, postmodern, and improvisational dance techniques, finding my home in choreography while an undergraduate student.  After moving to Chicago after graduation in 2003, I continued to make work while attaining my Pilates Certification and Graduate Laban Certificate in Movement Analysis from Columbia College Chicago.  The most influential tools for developing my choreographic ‘style’ and vision as a choreographer developed during this time through the studies of Rudolf Laban and choreographic workshops with Susan Rethorst and Jeanine Durning. I formed my nonprofit dance company The Moving Architects in 2007 when I felt ready to create a more stable framework and formal presence as a choreographer.

"The Groove" Andrew Rodderick with dancers Angela Luem and Laure Vinci de Vanegas

 

2. What are you currently doing?

I am currently Artistic Director of The Moving Architects, choreographing, performing, and teaching nationally and internationally, while also a graduate student pursuing my MFA in Dance at OSU.  I have my hands in many projects.  I am continuing to collaborate with my longtime musician Ian Hatcher and filmmaker Andrea Slavik while working with dancers in Columbus and Chicago on short-term and long-term dance projects.  My choreographic research is taking me around the world in the coming months as I engage in contemporary and traditional global dance practices from the research perspective of dance instructor, choreographer, and film documentarian, teaching and performing in Guatemala with the Tercer Festival Internacional de Danze Antigua and in Morocco with Action Danse 5 Festival.  I’m asking questions such as how can contemporary modern dance be shared internationally? How can cross-cultural dance experiences be translated into creative choreographic processes? This year I’ve also had the valuable opportunity to be graduate assistant to choreographer and Professor Bebe Miller.

3. What is your chorographic process typically like? [Read more…]

Filed Under: 10 Questions With... Tagged With: columbia college chicago, Erin Carlisle Norton, rudolph laban, the moving architects

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