Dancing Modernism / Performing Politics

Mark Franko examines the political aspects of North American modern dance in the 20th century, challenging assumptions that it reflects culture and highlighting the stories of dancers such as Isadora Duncan and Martha Graham.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 02 May 2023
Publisher: Indiana University Press

In the eagerly awaited update to a seminal work in dance studies, Mark Franko delves into the political dimensions of North American modern dance during the 20th century. This revised edition of Dancing Modernism / Performing Politics offers a comprehensive revision of the evolution of modern dance, featuring a foreword by Juan Ignacio Vallejos on Franko's career, a new preface, a new chapter on Yvonne Rainer, and an appendix of left-wing dance theory articles from the 1930s. Challenging the notion that dancing merely reflects culture, Franko employs a distinctive interdisciplinary approach to dance analysis, drawing from cultural theory, feminist studies, and sexual, class, and modernist politics. By highlighting the stories of renowned dancers such as Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, and even revolutionaries like Douglas Dunn, Franko aims to upend and contradict ideas about autonomy and traditional narratives of modernist dance history. This revised edition of Dancing Modernism / Performing Politics captivates anyone with an interest in the intersection of performance studies, history, and politics, shedding light on the captivating development of modern dance and its profound impact on society.

Weight: 394g
Dimension: 151 x 230 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780253065421
Edition number: Revised Edition