ABSTRACT

Understanding Dance is a comprehensive introduction to the aestethetics of dance, and will be an essential text for all those interested in dance as an object of study.
Focusing on the work of a number of major choreographers, companies and critics Graham McFee explores the nature of our understanding of Dance by considering the practice of understanding dance-works themselves. He concludes with a validation of the place of dance in society and in education. Troughout he provides detailed insights into the nature and appreciation of art as well as a general grouding in philosophy.

chapter |12 pages

Introduction

part |33 pages

PART I Groundwork

part |79 pages

PART II The Nature of Dance

chapter |18 pages

2 Dance as Action

(Is it dance … as opposed to gymnastics?)

chapter |21 pages

3 Dance as Art

chapter |24 pages

4 Dance as a Performing Art

(Is it the same dance I saw last night?)

chapter |14 pages

5 Dance as an Object of Understanding

(The Dance/Language Analogy)

part |67 pages

PART III Understanding of Dance

part |65 pages

PART IV Concepts for Understanding

chapter |17 pages

9 Style and Technique

chapter |18 pages

12 Expression in Dance

part |50 pages

PART V Applications and Implications

chapter |21 pages

13 Aesthetic Education

Some Myths

chapter |27 pages

14 Dance and Society

chapter |6 pages

Conclusion