Dances of Jose Limon and Erick Hawkins

Dances of José Limón and Erick Hawkins explores the stagings of masculinity, whiteness, and Latinidad in the work of US modern dance choreographers José Limón and Erick Hawkins, focusing on the period between 1945 and 1980. It examines how their embodied social histories worked co-constitutively with their training regimes and performance strategies to produce influential stagings of these identities.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 124 pages
Publication date: 21 January 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Dances of José Limón and Erick Hawkins delves into the examination of masculinity, whiteness, and Latinidad in the artistic creations of two prominent US modern dance choreographers: José Limón (1908-1972) and Erick Hawkins (1908-1994). Spanning the period between 1945 and 1980, this comprehensive book explores the artistic endeavors of Limón and Hawkins during a transformative era in modern dance. During this time, modern dance forged new connections with academic institutions, government bodies, mainstream markets, and concepts of embodiment. While the pre-war expressionist tradition championed by Limón and Hawkins' mentors faced various challenges, including the encroachment of ballet and Broadway on the principles of modernism, emerging modern dance choreographers encountered an increasingly conservative post-war culture shaped by the Cold War and Red Scare. By consolidating the works of Limón and Hawkins in a single volume, Dances of José Limón and Erick Hawkins offers a unique opportunity to explore two distinct approaches to training and performance that had a profound impact on shaping post-war dialogues on race, gender, and embodiment.

This book approaches the training regimes and performing strategies of Limón and Hawkins as social practices intricately intertwined with their geo-political backgrounds. It engages in a dialogue between Limón's queer and Latino heritage and Hawkins' straight and European heritage to examine how their embodied social histories co-constituted their training regimes and performance strategies, resulting in influential stagings of masculinity, whiteness, and Latinidad.

Through meticulous analysis and thoughtful interpretation, Dances of José Limón and Erick Hawkins sheds light on the complex interplay between artistic expression, cultural identity, and societal norms. It provides a valuable contribution to the study of dance history, gender studies, and cultural anthropology, offering insights into the ways in which dance can be used as a powerful tool for exploring and challenging societal constructs.

Weight: 230g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032474588