What is dance: art or magic, pleasure or work? How is dance born and how long does it last? Does dance have rules, and why are they broken? What music is easier to move to, and is it possible to dance in silence? Why did ballerinas in the 19th century wear pointe shoes, but in the 20th century, they switched to sneakers? What is modern about contemporary dance, and how does modern dance differ from postmodern dance? And—most importantly—why have people been dancing for as long as they can remember?

Answering these and many other questions, historian Irina Sirotkina draws on examples from ancient Greek trochee and court balls, folk dance and Diaghilev's Russian Seasons in Paris, romantic 'white' ballets, and digital dance performances. Readers of this book will become acquainted with ancient dances and modern dance trends, with outstanding choreographers and performers, and will learn about dance and dance notation—in short, they will immerse themselves in the infinitely diverse world of dance, where everyone dances differently, but there is a place for everyone. After all, people dance because they can't help but dance.

This book was prepared in collaboration with the Diana Vishneva Foundation and the Context. Diana Vishneva Festival.

Author: Maria Titova, Irina Sirotkina
Publishing House: A+A
Year: 2023
Number of pages: 80
Cover type: hardback