Leaps in the Dark: Art and the World
Rediscover one of the greatest dance writers of the twentieth century

"Aloff, herself a fine writer and critic, has plucked the best of Agnes de Mille, one of the most vivid writers in dance, and made a bouquet of them that is as pungent as de Mille’s writing."—Alexandra Tomalonis, editor ofDance View

"De Mille can be witty, wise, irascible, poignant. As editor, Aloff delivers her subject to the reader in full regalia, and the result is a remarkably scintillating volume."—Nancy Goldner, author of Balanchine Variations

"From a lifetime of writings, Mindy Aloff has assembled a book that is de Mille’s autobiography but also a chronicle about art and the world during the twentieth century. De Mille shows us herself and America growing up, Pavlova dancing again, Kurt Weill composing, and World War II as it transpires."—George Jackson, dance critic

Agnes George de Mille (1905-1993) was one of the most popular choreographers of American theater and film in the twentieth century. She was also one of the greatest writers on dance in English, alongside Edwin Denby, Arlene Croce, and Alastair Macaulay.

De Mille published eleven books, a review of the London première of Balanchine’s Prodigal Son, and a monograph ("Russian Journals"). Sadly, of these, only her biography of Martha Graham remains in print. Leaps in the Darkis a dazzling collection that reintroduces de Mille’s astounding written legacy to a new generation of dance enthusiasts. Mindy Aloff’s brief introductions provide just enough context to allow de Mille’s brilliant portraits to shine all the brighter.

This anthology presents the Prodigal Sonreview in full, alongside excerpts from the monograph and eight of de Mille’s ten books now out of print. The result is a beautifully crafted volume that highlights some of the most engaging, witty, and evocative dance writing ever penned.

Mindy Aloff teaches dance criticism and history at Barnard College. A past fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial and Woodrow Wilson Foundations, and a recipient of the Whiting Writers Award, she is the author of Dance Anecdotes: Stories from the Worlds of Ballet, Broadway, the Ballroom, and Modern Dance and Hippo in a Tutu: Dancing in Disney Animation.

1102248577
Leaps in the Dark: Art and the World
Rediscover one of the greatest dance writers of the twentieth century

"Aloff, herself a fine writer and critic, has plucked the best of Agnes de Mille, one of the most vivid writers in dance, and made a bouquet of them that is as pungent as de Mille’s writing."—Alexandra Tomalonis, editor ofDance View

"De Mille can be witty, wise, irascible, poignant. As editor, Aloff delivers her subject to the reader in full regalia, and the result is a remarkably scintillating volume."—Nancy Goldner, author of Balanchine Variations

"From a lifetime of writings, Mindy Aloff has assembled a book that is de Mille’s autobiography but also a chronicle about art and the world during the twentieth century. De Mille shows us herself and America growing up, Pavlova dancing again, Kurt Weill composing, and World War II as it transpires."—George Jackson, dance critic

Agnes George de Mille (1905-1993) was one of the most popular choreographers of American theater and film in the twentieth century. She was also one of the greatest writers on dance in English, alongside Edwin Denby, Arlene Croce, and Alastair Macaulay.

De Mille published eleven books, a review of the London première of Balanchine’s Prodigal Son, and a monograph ("Russian Journals"). Sadly, of these, only her biography of Martha Graham remains in print. Leaps in the Darkis a dazzling collection that reintroduces de Mille’s astounding written legacy to a new generation of dance enthusiasts. Mindy Aloff’s brief introductions provide just enough context to allow de Mille’s brilliant portraits to shine all the brighter.

This anthology presents the Prodigal Sonreview in full, alongside excerpts from the monograph and eight of de Mille’s ten books now out of print. The result is a beautifully crafted volume that highlights some of the most engaging, witty, and evocative dance writing ever penned.

Mindy Aloff teaches dance criticism and history at Barnard College. A past fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial and Woodrow Wilson Foundations, and a recipient of the Whiting Writers Award, she is the author of Dance Anecdotes: Stories from the Worlds of Ballet, Broadway, the Ballroom, and Modern Dance and Hippo in a Tutu: Dancing in Disney Animation.

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Leaps in the Dark: Art and the World

Leaps in the Dark: Art and the World

Leaps in the Dark: Art and the World

Leaps in the Dark: Art and the World

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Overview

Rediscover one of the greatest dance writers of the twentieth century

"Aloff, herself a fine writer and critic, has plucked the best of Agnes de Mille, one of the most vivid writers in dance, and made a bouquet of them that is as pungent as de Mille’s writing."—Alexandra Tomalonis, editor ofDance View

"De Mille can be witty, wise, irascible, poignant. As editor, Aloff delivers her subject to the reader in full regalia, and the result is a remarkably scintillating volume."—Nancy Goldner, author of Balanchine Variations

"From a lifetime of writings, Mindy Aloff has assembled a book that is de Mille’s autobiography but also a chronicle about art and the world during the twentieth century. De Mille shows us herself and America growing up, Pavlova dancing again, Kurt Weill composing, and World War II as it transpires."—George Jackson, dance critic

Agnes George de Mille (1905-1993) was one of the most popular choreographers of American theater and film in the twentieth century. She was also one of the greatest writers on dance in English, alongside Edwin Denby, Arlene Croce, and Alastair Macaulay.

De Mille published eleven books, a review of the London première of Balanchine’s Prodigal Son, and a monograph ("Russian Journals"). Sadly, of these, only her biography of Martha Graham remains in print. Leaps in the Darkis a dazzling collection that reintroduces de Mille’s astounding written legacy to a new generation of dance enthusiasts. Mindy Aloff’s brief introductions provide just enough context to allow de Mille’s brilliant portraits to shine all the brighter.

This anthology presents the Prodigal Sonreview in full, alongside excerpts from the monograph and eight of de Mille’s ten books now out of print. The result is a beautifully crafted volume that highlights some of the most engaging, witty, and evocative dance writing ever penned.

Mindy Aloff teaches dance criticism and history at Barnard College. A past fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial and Woodrow Wilson Foundations, and a recipient of the Whiting Writers Award, she is the author of Dance Anecdotes: Stories from the Worlds of Ballet, Broadway, the Ballroom, and Modern Dance and Hippo in a Tutu: Dancing in Disney Animation.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780813035703
Publisher: University Press of Florida
Publication date: 05/15/2011
Edition description: First
Pages: 368
Product dimensions: 6.10(w) x 9.40(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Mindy Aloff teaches dance criticism and history at Barnard College. A past fellow of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial and Woodrow Wilson Foundations, and a recipient of the Whiting Writers Award, she is the author of Dance Anecdotes: Stories from the Worlds of Ballet, Broadway, the Ballroom, and Modern Dance and Hippo in a Tutu: Dancing in Disney Animation.

Table of Contents

Preface xiii

Portraits and Self-Portraits 1

Takes Her Own Measure: (Excerpt from Speak to Me, Dance with Me) Agnes de Mille 1

Choice of Vocation: (Excerpt from "New York," Dance to the Piper) 10

Uncle Ce Cecil B. De Mille 11

People Mover: (Excerpt from "The Brothers," Dance to the Piper) 11

The Bull in the China Shoppe: (Excerpts from Speak to Me, Dance with Me) 12

Uncle Ce Weighs In: (Excerpt from Empire of Dreams: The Epic Life of Cecil B. De Mille Scott Eyman 25

Anna Pavlova 26

"Pavlova": (Dance to the Piper) 26

"The Swan": Dance to the Piper 32

(Excerpts from "The Kosloff School, " Dance to the Piper) Theodore Kosloff 38

(Excerpt from "The Profession, " Dance to the Piper) Adolph Bolm Louis Horst 41

(Excerpt from "The Profession, " Dance to the Piper) La Argentina 45

"Martha Graham, " Dance to the Piper Martha Graham 47

(Excerpt from Speak to Me, Dance with Me Antony Tudor Frederick Ashton 60

"Katherine Dunham," Portrait Gallery Katherine Dunham 65

"Alicia Markova," Portrait Gallery Alicia Markova 75

(Excerpt from "Hooray for What, " Dance to the Piper) Carmelita Maracci 89

(Excerpt from "Trude," And Promenade Home) Trude Rittmann 92

("R. and H.," And Promenade Home Richard Rodgers Oscar Hammerstein II 100

"Alicia Alonso," Portrait Gallery Alicia Alonso 112

Three Soviet Ballerinas: (Excerpts from "Russian Journals," Dance Perspectives 44, 1970 Eleonora Vlasova Galina Ulanova Maya Plisetskaya 129

The Stricken Body: Picture from the Inside: (Excerpt from Reprieve) 133

Essays 137

"The Contribution": (Dance to the Piper) 137

"Rhythm in My Blood": (And Promenade Home) 148

"The Milk of Paradise": (And Promenade Home) 158

"Old New York": (Portrait Gallery) 172

Art Is: (Excerpt from The Book of the Dance) 183

Curtains Up 185

Prodigal Son: ("Acrobatics in the New Choreography," Theatre Guild Magazine, January 1930) George Balanchine 185

Film DancesX by Agnes de Mille: (Excerpt from "Hooray for What" Dance to the Piper) George Balanchine 190

Rain Dance: (Excerpt from Speak to Me, Dance with Me) 194

Antony Tudor (Excerpt from "Hooray for What," Dance to the Piper) Dark Elegies 197

Rodeo by Agnes de Mille ("Rodeo," Dance to the Piper) 202

Oklahoma!, Dances by Agnes de Mille: "(Beautiful Morning," Dance to the Piper) 222

One Touch of Venus, Dances by Agnes de Mille: ("Show Biz," And Promenade Home) 235

Fall River Legend by Agnes de Mille: (Excerpts from Lizzie Borden: A Dance of Death) 257

A Lesson in Bowing: (Excerpt from Reprieve) 267

"Preparing for Performance": (To a Young Dancer) 275

Life Lines: An Exchange of Love Letters: (Walter's Book) 284

Acknowledgments 289

Literary Works by and about Agnes de Mille 291

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