Stepping Left: Dance and Politics in New York City, 1928-1942Stepping Left simultaneously unveils the radical roots of modern dance and recalls the excitement and energy of New York City in the 1930s. Ellen Graff explores the relationship between the modern dance movement and leftist political activism in this period, describing the moment in American dance history when the revolutionary fervor of "dancing modern" was joined with the revolutionary vision promised by the Soviet Union. This account reveals the major contribution of Communist and left-wing politics to modern dance during its formative years in New York City. From Communist Party pageants to union hall performances to benefits for the Spanish Civil War, Graff documents the passionate involvement of American dancers in the political and social controversies that raged throughout the Depression era. Dancers formed collectives and experimented with collaborative methods of composition at the same time that they were marching in May Day parades, demonstrating for workers' rights, and protesting the rise of fascism in Europe. Graff records the explosion of choreographic activity that accompanied this lively period--when modern dance was trying to establish legitimacy and its own audience. Stepping Left restores a missing legacy to the history of American dance, a vibrant moment that was supressed in the McCarthy era and almost lost to memory. Revisiting debates among writers and dancers about the place of political content and ethnicity in new dance forms, Stepping Left is a landmark work of dance history. |
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Contents
Workers Dancing | 26 |
THREE Dancing Red | 51 |
Dancers Working | 76 |
FIVE Dances for Spain Dances for America | 105 |
Folklore on the Urban Stage | 132 |
SEVEN Dance and Politics | 153 |
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activities American American dance Anna Sokolow appeared artists Association audience ballet Becque body called choreographers Collection Communist Party composed concert created criticism culture Daily Worker Dance Group Dance Observer Dance Project dancers December director early Edith Segal efforts experience February Federal Theatre Project figure folk forces Head Humphrey included International interview issues January Jewish John joined June later Library Library of Congress living March Martha Graham Martin Maslow mass modern dance move movement Negro notes November Ocko organized participants performed Performing Arts photograph played political popular presented Press production professional radical relief revolutionary revolutionary dance School Segal social songs Soviet stage Street strike struggle Tamiris technique tion Union United University women Workers Dance League working-class wrote York City York Public Library young
Bibliographic information
| Title | Stepping Left: Dance and Politics in New York City, 1928-1942 |
| Author | Ellen Graff |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | Duke University Press, 1997 |
| ISBN | 0822319489, 9780822319481 |
| Length | 248 pages |
| Subjects | › › Performing Arts / Dance / General Performing Arts / Dance / Modern |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |