Best modern dance books according to redditors

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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the cats might help you

If anyone cares, the man dancing in this photo is from a book called Dancing With Cats. I used to have that book! And I don't mean to make fun of people...but the pictures are hilarious!

No, it is "Why Paint Cats." It is literally about painting cats. There is another book, "Why Cats Paint." It is about why cats will paint pictures and how they paint things upside-down. "Dancing With Cats" is by Burton Silver and Heather Busch, as are the other two books. I have read (more or less) all three books. The experience of reading them is rather surreal. Realizing that someone paid several thousand dollars to have Charlie Chaplin painted on their cat's ass, using the asshole as a bowtie, is also a bit surreal.

EDIT: Added links. Expanded info.

It's inevitable, so get started with this.

http://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Cats-Creators-International-Seller/dp/1452128332

You might be interested in this: https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Cats-Creators-International-Seller-ebook/dp/B00IPYLW6Y

Reminds me of this... classic.

My closest item is $2.99 (potentially slightly nsfw i guess?) and my favorite pie is good ol' american Apple Pie, no ice cream. Thanks for the contest!

This reminded me of this book ...

OP might also enjoy Dancing With Cats. I highly recommend it!

https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Cats-Creators-International-Seller/dp/1452128332

http://www.amazon.com/Why-Paint-Cats-Ethics-Aesthetics/dp/1580082718


Also available: Why cats paint:

http://www.amazon.com/Why-Cats-Paint-Theory-Aesthetics/dp/0898156122/ref=la_B000APOYKC_1_2


And dancing with cats:

http://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Cats-Creators-International-Seller/dp/0811824152/ref=la_B000APOYKC_1_1

Bwahahaha :D My evil plan has worked.

Seriously though - I found a neat tool recently you can use to stop your amazon likes from appearing on Facebook. It is here for PC/Mac and here if you are browsing FB on your phone with an iphone or android

Dancing With Cats is a thing:

https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Cats-Creators-International-Seller/dp/1452128332

you want weird, you shall get weird:


Classic ice breaker. Leave an impression that lasts.

So you never feel lonely even where one goes on it's own.

Just in time for oscar's season, you can be the oscar.


if you're into beautiful coffee table display books, here's a very nice addition of the fine arts and if you happen to own a cat and are into repurposing what others would consider trash, here's another good read

Dancing with Cats: From the Creators of the International Best Seller Why Cats Paint hahahaha

http://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Cats-Creators-International-Seller/dp/0811824152

A most perfect scene for Dancing With Cats Vol. 2

Do you own this book?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0811824152

My mother-in-law gave me this. I just... have no words. I took it to work and left it in the "book corner"

Hah...links to the actual books for the curious: http://www.amazon.com/Why-Paint-Cats-Ethics-Aesthetics/dp/1580082718

http://www.amazon.com/Why-Cats-Paint-Theory-Aesthetics/dp/0898156122/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y

Shit! They were missing "Dancing with cats" http://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Cats-Creators-International-Seller/dp/0811824152/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_z

Here is a list of jewish composers. Given how many composers are jewish, it is not surprising there are so many famous jewish performers of classical music.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Jewish_classical_composers

It is really more a reflection of the fact that there are jewish high achievers in every field of endeavour.

http://www.amazon.com/Their-Own-Image-Popular-Culture/dp/0813538092/ref=sr_1_14

http://www.amazon.com/Entertaining-America-Jews-Movies-Broadcasting/dp/0691113025/ref=sr_1_7

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Entertainment-Darryl-Lyman-Hardcover/dp/B00ZM38ZES/ref=sr_1_2

http://www.amazon.com/Jews-Prime-Time-David-Zurawik/dp/1584652349/ref=sr_1_1

http://www.amazon.com/Empire-Their-Own-Invented-Hollywood/dp/0385265573/ref=sr_1_1