What is the essence of black dance in America? To answer that question, Brenda Dixon Gottschild maps an unorthodox 'geography', the geography of the black dancing body, to show the central place black dance has in American culture. From the feet to the butt, to hair to skin/face, and beyond to the soul/spirit, Brenda Dixon Gottschild talks to some of the greatest choreographers of our day including Garth Fagan, Francesca Harper, Meredith Monk, Brenda Buffalino, Doug Elkins, Ralph Lemon, Fernando Bujones, Bill T. Jones, Trisha Brown, Jawole Zollar, Bebe Miller, Sean Curran and Shelly Washington to look at the evolution of black dance and it's importance to American culture. This is a groundbreaking piece of work by one of the foremost African-American dance critics of our day.
List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Introduction PART I: TOPOGRAPHY OF THINGS TO COME: RUMINATIONS ON DANCING IN A BLACK DANCING BODY Latitude I Black White Dance Dancers The Physical Terrain Position/Disposition: Bujones/Zollar Interviews Location: 'Who Is There?' PART II: MAPPING THE TERRITORIES Latitude II Feet Butt Skin/Hair Location: 'To Be or Not . . .' PARTIII: THE CONTINENT Latitude III Soul/Spirit Blood Memories, Spirit Dances Position/Disposition: From Coon to Cool Location: Horizon Notes Bibliography
