First We Take Manhattan: Four American Women and the New York School of Dance Criticism

197 Pages·1996·4.1 MB·English

by  Diana Theodores

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FIRST WE TAKE
MANHATTAN
Choreography and Dance Studies
A series of books edited by Robert P. Cohan, C.B.E.
Volume 1
The Life and Times of Ellen von Frankenberg
Karen Bell-Kanner
Volume 2
Doople
The Eternal Law of African Dance
Alphonse Tierou
Volume 3
Elements of Performance
A Guide for Performers in Dance, Theatre and Opera
Pauline Kaner
Volume 4
Upward Panic
The Autobiography of Eva Palmer-Sikelianos
Edited by John P. Anton
Volume 5
Modern Dance in Germany and the United States
Crosscurrents and Influences
Isa Partsch-Bergsohn
Volume 6
Antonio de Triana and the Spanish Dance
A Personal Recollection
Rita Vega de Triana
Volume 7
The Dance of Death
Kurt Jooss and the Weimar Years
Suzanne K. Walther
Volume 8
Dance Words
Compiled by Valerie Preston-Dunlop
Volume 9
East Meets West in Dance: Voices in the Cross-Cultural Dialogue
Edited by Ruth Solomon and John Solomon
Please see the back of this book for other titles in the Choreography and
Dance Studies series.
FIRST WE TAKE
MANHATTAN
FOUR AMERICAN WOMEN AND THE NEW YORK SCHOOL
OF DANCE CRITICISM
Diana Theodores
Dartington College of Arts, Devon, UK
~~ ~~~;~;n~~:up
NEW YORK AND LONDON
Published by Routledge
270 Madison Ave, New York NY 10016
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Transferred to Digital Printing 2010
Copyright© 1996 by OPA (Overseas Publishers Association) Amsterdam B.V.
Published in The Netherlands by Harwood Academic Publishers GmbH.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from
the publisher.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Theodores, Diana
First we take Manhattan: four American women and the New York
School of Dance Criticism.-(Choreography and dance studies; v. 10)
1. Dance criticism-New York (N.Y.)
I. Title
792.8'015
ISBN 3-7186-5876-3 (Hardcover)
ISBN 3-7186-5886-0 (Softcover)
Cover design by Gareth James, incorporating Frontier (1935) with choreography
by Martha Graham: photo © 1941 by Barbara Morgan.
Publisher's Note
The publisher has gone to great lengths to ensure the quality of this reprint
but points out that some imperfections in the original may be apparent.
CONTENTS
Introduction to the Series vii
List of Plates ix
Acknowledgements xi
Preface xiii
1. Frontiers and Pioneers 1
2. Under the Influence 11
The Critic 11
The Environment 15
Influences 18
Denby's Legacy 23
Dancers 30
Balanchine 35
Formalism 39
Critical Repertory 45
3. Women at Work 49
Description 49
Style as Meaning 67
Classicism 70
The Critics as Women 80
Possessing, Preserving and Purifying 84
4. The Marcia B. Siegel File 91
5. The Arlene Croce File 113
v
vi Contents
6. The Deborah Jowitt File 131
7. The Nancy Goldner File 145
8. The Fruits of their Labors 161
Bibliography 163
Index 173
INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES
Choreography and Dance Studies is a book series of special interest to dancers,
dance teachers and choreographers. Focusing on dance composition, its
techniques and training, the series will also cover the relationship of
choreography to other components of dance performance such as music,
lighting and the training of dancers.
In addition, Choreography and Dance Studies will seek to publish new
works and provide translations of works not previously published in
English, as well as to publish reprints of currently unavailable books of
outstanding value to the dance community.
Robert P. Cohan
vii
Page Intentionally Left Blank
LIST OF PLATES
1. Winterbranch, choreography by Merce Cunningham (1964) 12
2. Pillar of Fire, choreography by Antony Tudor (1942) 26
3. Concerto Barocco, choreography by George Balanchine (1941) 31
4. Four Temperaments, choreography by George Balanchine (1946) 37
5. Prodigal Son, choreography by George Balanchine (1929,
revived 1950 by NYCB) 42
6. Suzanne Farrell in Balanc hine's Don Quixote (1965) 52
7. Suzanne Farrell in Balanc hine's Don Quixote (1965) 53
8. Primitive Mysteries, choreography by Martha Graham (1935) 61
9. Primitive Mysteries (1965 revival) 63
10. Signals, choreography by Merce Cunningham (1970) 65
11. Aureole, choreography by Paul Taylor (1962) 66
12. Sketch by Marcia B. Siegel 101
13. Sketch by Marcia B. Siegel 102
14. Sketch by Marcia B. Siegel 102
15. Sketch by Marcia B. Siegel 103
16. Water Study, choreography by Doris Humphrey (1928) 105
17. Marcia Siegel, July 1994 111
18. Carefree, with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (1938) 125
19. Arlene Croce, May 1995 129
20. Deuce Coupe, choreography by Twyla Tharp (1973) 136
21. Deborah Jo witt, 1988 144
22. As Time Goes By, choreography by Twyla Tharp (1973) 151
23. Nancy Goldner, April 1995 159
IX