Dance and Activism - by Dana Mills (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

This study focuses on dance as an activist practice in and of itself, across geographical locations and over the course of a century, from 1920 to 2020. Through doing so, it considers how dance has been an empowering agent for political action throughout civilisation.

Dance and Activismoffers a glimpse of different strategies of mobilizing the human body for good and justice for all, and captures the increasing political activism epitomized by bodies moving on the streets in some of the most turbulent political situations. This has, most recently, undoubtedly been partly owing to the rise of the far-right internationally, which has marked an increase in direct action on the streets.

Offering a survey of key events across the century, such as the fall of President Zuma in South Africa; pro-reproductive rights action in Poland and Argentina; and the recent women's marches against Donald Trump's presidency, you will see how dance has become an urgent field of study. Key geographical locations are explored as sites of radical dance - the Lower East Side of New York; Gaza; Syria; Cairo, Iran; Iraq; Johannesburg - to name but a few - and get insights into some of the major figures in the history of dance, including Pearl Primus, Martha Graham, Anna Sokolow and Ahmad Joudah. Crucially, lesser or unknown dancers, who have in some way influenced politics, all over the world are brought into the limelight (the Syrian ballerinas and Hussein Smko, for example).

Dance and Activismtroubles the boundary between theory and practice, while presenting concrete case studies as a site for robust theoretical analysis.

Review Quotes

Dance and Activism: A Century of Radical Dance Across the World, makes an important contribution to ongoing conversations within the field of dance studies about the political nature of dance. The book explores the mobilization of dance as a language and method for activism and radical hope, extending and refining the intimate relationship between dance and politics outlined in Mills's previous work.
Dance Chronicle

Mills artfully weaves together a massive array of case studies, drawing connections across the globe and throughout the century.
Dance International

Mills brings an investigative style and ethnographic approach to dig deep-within contextual layers and personal stories-to discover an interpretation that positions the dialog between the social cultural moment, the dancer, and the dance ... A tightly and provocatively argued book that provides a new perspective on dance as activism.
Journal of Dance Education

About the Author

Dana Mills is a writer, activist and dancer based in Amsterdam. She is the author of Dance and Politics: Moving beyond Boundaries and Rosa Luxemburg.