Reddit reviews What Is Dance?: Readings in Theory and Criticism (Galaxy Books)
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That is simply a poorly written article.
Dance theory, choreography, and general concepts of contemporary dance are quite well defined and clearly articulated.
In the history of dance, there have been a number of approaches to formalize specific principles and vocabulary, even actual dance notation (Labanotation) was created to record specific choreographic movement in order to be reproduced. The availability of film and especially video made this obsolete.
Ballet is still actually the foundation of modern dance, which introduces variations of technique and extended vocabulary. It would literally be impossible to be a professional performer or choreographer in the contemporary sphere without not only a solid ballet foundation, but other well known principles set out since the Denishawn school (school founded by Ted Shawn and Ruth St. Denis that is considered the origin of contemporary dance's break with ballet).
Anyway, here are some essential reads that I would strongly encourage anyone that is interested in choreography or staging, especially in the context of marching arts, to read:
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The Art of Making Dances - Doris Humphrey (<<< critical read!)
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Making-Dances-Doris-Humphrey/dp/0871271583
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The Intimate Act of Choreography - Lynne Anne Blom & L. Tarin Chaplin
https://www.amazon.com/Intimate-Choreography-Lynne-Anne-Blom/dp/0822953420/
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Anatomy of Movement - Blandine Calais-Germain
https://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Movement-Revised-Blandine-Calais-Germain/dp/0939616572
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Dance and the Specific Image - Daniel Nagrin
https://www.amazon.com/Dance-Specific-Image-Daniel-Nagrin/dp/0822955202
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Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet - Gail Grant
https://www.amazon.com/Technical-Manual-Dictionary-Classical-Ballet/dp/0486218430/
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The Routledge Studies Dance Reader - Alexandra Carter
https://www.amazon.com/Routledge-Dance-Studies-Reader/dp/0415485991
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Every Little Movement: A Book About Delsarte - Ted Shawn
https://www.amazon.com/Every-Little-Movement-About-Delsarte-ebook/dp/B01N1YQQXX/
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What Is Dance?: Readings in Theory and Criticism - Roger Copland & Marshall Cohen
https://www.amazon.com/What-Dance-Readings-Theory-Criticism/dp/0195031970
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The Illustrated Dance Technique of José Limon - Daniel Lewis
https://www.amazon.com/Illustrated-Dance-Technique-Jos%C3%A9-Lim%C3%B3n/dp/0871272091/
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There are so many more!
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Also recommended, free OCW course from MIT:
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Dance Theory and Composition
https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/music-and-theater-arts/21m-675-dance-theory-and-composition-fall-2003/
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