Revealing the interplay and influence of dance and science
during an age of colonial expansion Bringing together dance
and science, two paradigms that explore the nature and possibilities of the
body, this volume illuminates the meanings and articulations of dance in
nineteenth-century societies. This global collection of studies reveals how the
two fields informed each other's development and engaged with dominant European
worldviews in a time of unprecedented colonial expansion.
The chapters in
Dance
and Science in the Long Nineteenth Century examine how trends and
developments in the performing arts reflected scientific thinking of this era,
including the categorization of "types" of bodies and the ranking of cultural
and religious beliefs, as well as how dance served as an active site of inquiry
where the workings and limits of the human body could be studied.
Researchers
discuss topics including the influence of plant biology on the aesthetics of
ballet, technological advancements in the staging and recording of
performances, arguments for the use of Eurhythmics in promoting a stronger
"race," and European fascination with Indian dance and yoga.
Featuring response
essays that put leading scholars in conversation with one another and offer new
perspectives, this volume is unique for its geographic scope and its discussion
of diverse bodies, cultures, themes, and scientific disciplines. It sheds light
on a historical interplay that has shaped many of today's political and
cultural realities.
