The Revival of Banned Dances

Throughout history, humans have used dance as a benefit for mind, body, and soul. In some cases, governments or churches have banned certain dances for a variety of reasons. This work provides an exploration of dances banned around the world, then revived by a handful of brave proponents. The sixteen case studies—ranging from Argentina’s Tango and Cambodia’s Royal Classical Ballet to Brazil’s Samba and Ireland’s Step Dance—reveal the meaning of the dance to each culture and the importance of the art form to the creation of healthy sociological and political climates. Chapters detail each dance’s origins, technical steps and movements, costumes, music, and political history, providing an informative overview of the oppression of dance culture through history.
Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Reneé Critcher Lyons is an assistant professor in the School Library Media Program at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee. She lives in Boone, North Carolina.

Reneé Critcher Lyons

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 227
Bibliographic Info: 58 photos, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2012
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6594-1
eISBN: 978-0-7864-9041-7
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1

Part I. Ritual
1. Rekindling the Flame: The Revival of the Sadir Katcheri (Bharata Natyam)      5
2. “It Is a Strict Law That Bids Us Dance”: The Kwakiutl Hamatsa Dance      17
3. Poetry in Motion: The Hula      29
4. We Are All on This Earth Together: The Plains Indians Sun Dance      39
5. The Churning of the Oceans: The Survival of the Khmer Classical Dance of Cambodia      48
6. Of Two Worlds: The Whirling Dervishes of Konya      58

Part II. Revival
7. A Better Way of Life: The Ghost Dance of the Plains Indians      71
8. “The Only People Can Shout Is Right Here”: The Unbroken Chain of the Ring- Shout Dance      84
9. Visca Sardana! The Astronomical Dance of Catalonia      96
10. Capoeiristas: Righteous Avengers      104
11. The Raqs Sharqi (Belly Dance) Faces Trouble      118

Part III. Revelry
12. Bringing in the May      133
13. All’s Well That Ends Well: The English Morris Dance      145
14. Feet on Fire: Irish Dance at the Crossroads      157
15. Sacred, Yet Profane: The Afro- Brazilian Batuque and Samba      177
16. It Takes Two to Tango!      192

Bibliography      205
Index      212