Dances that Describe Themselves: The Improvised Choreography of Richard Bull [Hardcover]

Susan Leigh Foster (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 4, 2002

An inquiry into improvisation as practiced by Richard Bull and his contemporaries.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

For some 30 years, Bull, described by Adriane Ruggerio in the International Dictionary of Modern Dance as "a dancer and stager of improvisational movement pieces," was part of the modern dance scene that thrived in the lofts and galleries of lower Manhattan. Trained as a jazz pianist, Bull explored the use of improvisation in dance and in his works made the creative process more transparent, allowing both the dancers and the audience to be surprised by "what comes next." Foster (dance, Univ. of California, Riverside) once worked with Bull and his wife, Cynthia Novack, and thus brings considerable insight to this study of the processes and procedures of the singular artist's creations. In addition to analyzing Bull's work, she also discusses the work of several of his contemporaries (e.g., Trisha Brown, Bill T. Jones, and Ishmael Houston-Jones). The title refers to a work by Bull in which the dancers recite as they perform; his dances, although improvised, proceeded from written instructions to the dancers, which detailed how each piece was to unfold. A chronological listing of his works and some selections from his writings are included. Not for the casual reader, this book will be of particular interest to specialized collections in dance and the performing arts. Carolyn M. Mulac, Chicago P.L.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Foster elegantly and seamlessly integrates the Africanist improvisational aesthetic into her lively, detailed picture of Bull's world, realigning a landscape that has too long suffered from ethnocentric skew."

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Wesleyan (September 4, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0819565504
• ISBN-13: 978-0819565501
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 8.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,190,505 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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