Customer Reviews

Dancing Spirits: Rhythms and Rituals of Haitian Vodun, the Rada Rite (Contributions to the Study of Music and Dance)

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I teach afro-Haitian dance and wanted to find information about the dances to share with my students. I was attracted to this book for a long time ago but didn't want to spend all that money for a book. Recently I decided to make the investment to see what make this book so expensive. To be honest there are a lot of good information in it but I have read other less expensive book with more information than Dancing Spirits. If you want to sell a book for that kind of money at least use some good quality color pictures and illustrations. The pictures make the book looks like crap... and worthless for the money. No originallity, to me it seems like the author just copy and repeat what have alrady been written by Katherine Dunham, Lamatiniere Honorat, Lavinia Williams... Although some descriptions of the dances mentioned in the book are very helpful but lack details and beside some rada dances are missing for e.g. the author talked about zepol but did not explore the other variations like flavodou and dahome; what about all the Mayi variations: Mayi siye, Mayi dete or gete and laye? What about Yanvalou Mascaron, Yanvalou royal? I haven't finished my reading yet but feel very disappointed I was expecting to find information that no one has ever presented before about Haitian dances or Vodou. I will certainly return the book and get my money back. If you don't mind spending that kind of money for very little go ahead and buy this book but if you concern about where you putting your money find some other books. with $110 you can get at least 4 books with tons of info about the rada spirits and rites.

This is a study of the songs, styles of dance and music frequently encountered at a Vodou service, with explanations thereof.

Where songs are quoted, they also are translated conveniently.

My interests don't run this way, however it was saved from being a dry read by being woven together with alot of history and wonderful descriptions of personal encounters the author had with significant people during research and all in all, this was the most interesting sections of the book and lifts it well above a mere study of form by breathing living substance into the topic.

I'm glad to have this book in my private collection.

If you are musically inclined and interested in Vodou, this is a must have classic.