Dancing Many Drums: Excavations in African American Dance (Studies in Dance History) [Paperback]

Thomas F. Defrantz (Author)

Book Description

Series: Studies in Dance History | Publication Date: December 7, 2001

Few will dispute the profound influence that African American music and movement has had in American and world culture. Dancing Many Drums explores that influence through a groundbreaking collection of essays on African American dance history, theory, and practice. In so doing, it reevaluates "black" and "African American " as both racial and dance categories. Abundantly illustrated, the volume includes images of a wide variety of dance forms and performers, from ring shouts, vaudeville, and social dances to professional dance companies and Hollywood movie dancing.

Bringing together issues of race, gender, politics, history, and dance, Dancing Many Drums ranges widely, including discussions of dance instruction songs, the blues aesthetic, and Katherine Dunham’s controversial ballet about lynching, Southland. In addition, there are two photo essays: the first on African dance in New York by noted dance photographer Mansa Mussa, and another on the 1934 "African opera," Kykunkor, or the Witch Woman.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dancing Many Drums unearths many artists and performance companies whose work should be made available to the scholarly community and the general public. DeFrantz presents new scholarship by new writers who are well versed in the history of African American dancing, many through actual dance practice."—Anita Gonzalez, Florida State University

About the Author

Thomas F. DeFrantz is associate professor of music and theater arts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is the author of Dancing Revelations: Alvin Ailey’s Embodiment of African American Culture (Oxford U Press, 2004). In addition to scholarly articles, he has written on dance for the Village Voice and Philadelphia Inquirer. He is a dancer and choreographer and for many years directed the dance history program at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: University of Wisconsin Press; 1st edition (December 7, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0299173143
• ISBN-13: 978-0299173142
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #521,875 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dancing Many Drums, April 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Dancing Many Drums: Excavations in African American Dance (Studies in Dance History) (Paperback)

This is the most helpful book that I have found on African American Dance. From Hill's essay on Katherine Dunham's Southland to Green's work on Pearl Primus, this is an excellent resource on dance culture, especially as a form of resistance. DeFrantz also provides a useful and well-written overview in his introduction that contextualizes many of the essays. This book is very accessible and extremely valuable.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A seminal study of African-American music and dance, July 14, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dancing Many Drums: Excavations in African American Dance (Studies in Dance History) (Paperback)

Expertly written by dancer and choreographer Thomas F. DeFrantz (who is also an Associate Professor of Music and Theater Arts, Massachusetts Institute of Technology) , Dancing Many Drums: Excavations In African American Dance is a ground breaking and seminal study of African-American music and dance, ranging from ring shouts and vaudeville to Hollywood movie dancing. A scholarly, well-researched, fascinating analysis that studies the very heart of the dance, Dancing Many Drums is a very highly recommended contribution to Music History Studies; African/American Studies; and Cultural History Studies supplemental reading lists and academic reference collections.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dancing Many Drums, April 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Dancing Many Drums: Excavations in African American Dance (Studies in Dance History) (Paperback)

This is the most helpful book that I have found on African American Dance. From Hill's essay on Katherine Dunham's Southland to Green's work on Pearl Primus, this is an excellent resource on dance culture, especially as a form of resistance. DeFrantz also provides a useful and well-written overview in his introduction that contextualizes many of the essays. This book is very accessible and extremely valuable.