Choreographing Identities: Folk Dance, Ethnicity And Festival in the United States And Canada [Paperback]

Anthony Shay (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786426004 | ISBN-13: 978-0786426003 | Publication Date: September 11, 2006

Throughout its history, the United States has become a new home for thousands of immigrants, all of whom have brought their own traditions and expressions of ethnicity. Not least among these customs are folk dances, which over time have become visual representations of cultural identity. Naturally, however, these dances have not existed in a vacuum. They have changed—in part as a response to ever-changing social identities, and in part as a reaction to deliberate manipulations by those within as well as outside of a particular culture. Compiled in great part from the author’s own personal dance experience, this volume looks at how various cultures use dance as a visual representation of their identity, and how “traditional” dances change over time. It discusses several “parallel layers” of dance: dances performed at intra-cultural social occasions, dances used for representation or presentation, and folk dance performances. Individual chapters center on various immigrant cultures. Chiefly the work focuses on cultural representation and how it is sometimes manipulated. Key folk dance festivals in the United States and Canada are reviewed. Interviews with dancers, teachers, and others offer a first-hand perspective. An extensive bibliography encompasses concert programs and reviews as well as broader scholarly sources.

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About the Author

Award winning choreographer Anthony Shay lives in Los Angeles, California. His articles have appeared in Dance Research Journal, Iranian Studies Journal, International Encyclopedia of Dance, and other publications.

Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (September 11, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786426004
• ISBN-13: 978-0786426003
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #721,405 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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