Synopsis: Let’s dance! And so you will, with this abundantly informative book, laden with dynamic imagery that the movement and expression of contemporary dance seem to lift from its pages!

In 1913, when Nijinsky danced The Rite of Spring in Paris, modern dance was born. Today, it is perhaps hard for us to imagine the profound impact early futuristic choreography had upon audiences during what was still a corset-bound era. But dance in this form has simply continued to break barriers and enthral many. In Talk About Contemporary Dance, the basis of this astonishing form is illuminated and defined. Taking a quote from Jean Cocteau, ‘Amaze me!’ may be the best overall description for contemporary dance.

The book is filled with just that: amazing aspects of contemporary dance. Following an engaging introduction to the art of dance, the discipline in all its facets is explored, from opera and ballet to hip hop and modern flamenco, with a look at the influences that shaped it, areas such as the circus, fashion, performance, and the visual arts. It looks at how dance has evolved from The Rite of Spring to the Olympic Games. One learns how to recognise this form of dance and how to define it, and chapters are devoted to illustrated profiles on the background and style of the thirty most influential (and some of the most daring) exponents in contemporary dance. Merce Cunningham, William Forsythe, Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker, Akram Khan, Martha Graham, Trisha Brown, and Pina Bausch, are just a few of the dancers and choreographers to fill these pages. Most significantly, as contemporary dance is a form that breaks down borders and mixes genres, this book strips bare the preconceptions that contemporary dance is highbrow or more a sport than an art, that it is performed by non-professionals, and that it has no real ‘stars’.

To round it off, there is a useful chronology of key dates in the history of this medium, from its origins to the present day. A list of dance venues, companies, festivals, and a select bibliography are also included as well as a glossary of key words, giving meaning to the jargon and allowing the reader to readily identify personal tastes from minimalism to virtuality.

This is an invaluable information- and image-packed resource for contemporary dance enthusiasts as well as professionals or those studying dance.

Talk About Contemporary Dance was awarded Best Book on Dance by the Syndicat Professional de la Critique de Theâtre, Musique, et Danse.

Philippe Noisette writes for the magazines Paris Match and Danser and has also written several books on dance.

Elisabeth Couturier, journalist, is the editorial director of the Talk About collection that includes Talk About Design (2010), Talk About Contemporary Architecture (2010), and Talk About Fashion (2011).

Published by Flammarion

http://www.amazon.co.uk/About-Contemporary-Dance-Philippe-Noisette/dp/2080301705/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1301245935&sr=8-1

Hot Brands Cool Places Verdict
For lovers of contemporary dance this is an absolute delight. It is also a wonderful introduction, as it outlines the origins, the different styles, icons, the purpose, and the language of contemporary dance. Stunningly illustrated this award-winning book is thought provoking, illuminating and fascinating. A wonderful gift for lovers of dance!