Rethinking the Sylph: New Perspectives on the Romantic Ballet (Studies in Dance History)

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 301 pages
• Published by: Wesleyan
• Edition: 1st Edition October 15, 1997
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0819563269
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0819563262
• Book Dimensions: 10 x 7.1 x 0.9 inches
• Weighs: 1.4 pounds

Product Review
"There is nothing in print with the depth of scholarship, diverse points of view, or range of material offered by these fascinating and exciting book. It is significant and much needed." (Barbara Barker )

Product Description
Rethinking the Sylph gathers essays by a premier group of international scholars to illustrate the importance of the romantic ballet within the broad context of western theatrical dancing. The wide variety of perspectives -- from social history to feminism, from psychoanalysis to musicology -- serves to illuminate the modernity of the Romantic ballet in terms of vocabulary, representation of gender, and iconography. The collection highlights previously unexplored aspects of the Romantic ballet, including its internationalism; its reflection of modern ideas of nationalism through the use and creation of national dance forms; its construction of an exotic-erotic hierarchy, and proto-orientalist "other"; its transformation of social relations from clan to class; and the repercussions of its feminization as an art form. This generously illustrated book offers a wealth of rare archival material, including prints, costume designs, music, and period reviews, some translated into English for the first time.