Moving Lessons is an insightful and sophisticated look at the origins and influence of dance in American universities; focusing on Margaret HDoubler; who established the first university courses and the first degree program in dance (at the University of Wisconsin). Dance educator and historian Janice Ross shows that HDoubler (1889ndash;1982) was both emblematic of her time and an innovator who made deep imprints in American culture. An authentic "New Woman;" HDoubler emerged from a sheltered female Victorian world to take action in the public sphere. She changed the way Americans thought; not just about female physicality but also about higher education for women. Ross brings together many discoursesmdash;from dance history; pedagogical theory; womens history; feminist theory; American history; and the history of the bodymdash;in intelligent; exciting; and illuminating ways and adds a new chapter to each of them. She shows how HDoubler; like Isadora Duncan and other modern dancers; helped to raise dance in the eyes of the middle class from its despised status as lower-class entertainment and "dangerous" social interaction to a serious enterprise. Taking a nuanced critical approach to the history of womens bodies and their representations; Moving Lessons fills a very large gap in the history of dance education.
#4474051 in eBooks 2012-11-26 2012-11-26File Name: B00E3E704S
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. About time......By mikel paulDonna Soto-Morettinis book is like water on a parched day; a long overdue and refreshing acknowledgement of whats never (I havent read one until hers) talked about in so many how-to books about the "ART" of singing and singers. Acknowledging throughout her book the views through vocal histories; artists and artist song examples; styles; genres; practices and methods; she taps into the deeper place that "any" singer who wishes to; likes to and frankly; "loves" to sing will be given a permission slip to do just that; right from where they are. "Here; try this on" she says. Her own rich musical history reveals an understanding of this desire "to sing"; the "want" that speaks from and to the place; where; in our attempts to define it; we are thankfully left with the joy in our hearts simply being moved by the act of doing it...Like a tracking Indian guide; Donna leads without pointing the way..to aid you to discover what works in you. The McCartney Q A at the close is the perfect dessert; like the closing of a song that leaves you with the "aah"......