Modern Moves: Dancing Race during the Ragtime and Jazz Eras

Modern Moves traces the movement of American social dance styles between black and white cultural groups and between immigrant and migrant communities during the early twentieth century. Its central focus is New York City, where the confluence of two key demographic streams - an influx of immigrants from Eastern Europe and the growth of the city's African American community particularly as it centered Harlem - created the conditions of possibility for hybrid dance forms like blues, ragtime, ballroom, and jazz dancing. Author Danielle Robinson illustrates how each of these forms came about as the result of the co-mingling of dance traditions from different cultural and racial backgrounds in the same urban social spaces. The results of these cross-cultural collisions in New York City, as she argues, were far greater than passing dance trends; they in fact laid the foundation for the twentieth century's social dancing practices throughout the United States. By looking at dance as social practice across conventional genre and race lines, this book demonstrates that modern social dancing, like Western modernity itself, was dependent on the cultural production and labor of African diasporic peoples -- even as they were excluded from its rewards. A cornerstone in Robinson's argument is the changing role of the dance instructor, which was transformed from the proprietor of a small-scale, local dance school at the end of the nineteenth century to a member of a distinct, self-identified social industry at the beginning of the twentieth. Whereas dance studies has been slow to connect early twentieth century dancing with period racial politics, Modern Moves departs radically from prior scholarship on the topic, and in so doing, revises social and African American dance history of this period. Recognizing the rac(ial)ist beginnings of contemporary American social dancing, it offers a window into the ways that dancing throughout the twentieth century has provided a key means through which diverse groups of people have navigated shifting socio-political relations through their bodily movement.Modern Moves asserts that the social practice of modern dancing, with its perceived black origins, empowered displaced people such as migrants and immigrants to grapple with the effects of industrialization, urbanization, and the rise of North American modernity. Far more than simple appropriation, the selling and practicing of "black" dances during the 1910s and 1920s reinforced whiteness as the ideal racial status in America through embodied and rhetorical engagements with period black stereotypes.

Arts & Photography

Robinson, Danielle

Music

Oxford University Press

Modern Moves traces the movement of American social dance styles between black and white cultural groups and between immigrant and migrant communities during the early twentieth century. Its central focus is New York City, where the confluence of two key demographic streams - an influx of immigrants from Eastern Europe and the growth of the city's African American community particularly as it centered Harlem - created the conditions of possibility for hybrid dance forms like blues, ragtime, ballroom, and jazz dancing. Author Danielle Robinson illustrates how each of these forms came about as the result of the co-mingling of dance traditions from different cultural and racial backgrounds in the same urban social spaces. The results of these cross-cultural collisions in New York City, as she argues, were far greater than passing dance trends; they in fact laid the foundation for the twentieth century's social dancing practices throughout the United States. By looking at dance as social practice across conventional genre and race lines, this book demonstrates that modern social dancing, like Western modernity itself, was dependent on the cultural production and labor of African diasporic peoples -- even as they were excluded from its rewards. A cornerstone in Robinson's argument is the changing role of the dance instructor, which was transformed from the proprietor of a small-scale, local dance school at the end of the nineteenth century to a member of a distinct, self-identified social industry at the beginning of the twentieth. Whereas dance studies has been slow to connect early twentieth century dancing with period racial politics, Modern Moves departs radically from prior scholarship on the topic, and in so doing, revises social and African American dance history of this period. Recognizing the rac(ial)ist beginnings of contemporary American social dancing, it offers a window into the ways that dancing throughout the twentieth century has provided a key means through which diverse groups of people have navigated shifting socio-political relations through their bodily movement. Modern Moves asserts that the social practice of modern dancing, with its perceived black origins, empowered displaced people such as migrants and immigrants to grapple with the effects of industrialization, urbanization, and the rise of North American modernity. Far more than simple appropriation, the selling and practicing of "black" dances during the 1910s and 1920s reinforced whiteness as the ideal racial status in America through embodied and rhetorical engagements with period black stereotypes.

A comprehensive ready-reckoner to the customs and etiquette of France -Europe's most singular and centrist culture. 'Vive la difference!'- the term which celebrates the special qualities of the French way of life and the unique attributes of 'French sytle', in food and wine, art and architecture, fashion and passion, remains as true today as ever it did. At the heart of the European movement, it sees itself also as guardian of the 'soul' of Europe.Contents: Getting to Know France; A Brief History (including Roman Conquest to Liberation & renewal); Who Are the French? (including French-English rivalry, guarding 'Frenchness', Haute Couture and post-colonial trauma); Meeting People (including conversational techniques, home & family life, state & religion); French Homes; Eating & Drinking (including wine and regional cuisine); Business Contacts; Travelling Around (including French Railways, public transport in Paris and public holidays); Out & About (including banks, museums, where to stay and public conveniences); Useful Words & Phrases;Facts About France; Index.

Customs & Etiquette Of France (SIMPLE GUIDES CUSTOMS AND ETIQUETTE)

Reference

Etiquette

Bravo Ltd.

THIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU • to appreciate one of the world’s great religions and the Islamic way of life • to understand what it means to follow the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad — ‘the Messenger of God’ • to recognize Islam’s key practices and traditional beliefs • to avoid faux pas in conversation, in travelling and in personal relationships ACCESS THE WORLD’S RELIGIONS Simple Guides: Religion is a series of concise, accessible introductions to the world’s major religions. Written by experts in the field, they offer an engaging and sympathetic description of the key concepts, beliefs and practices of different faiths. Ideal for spiritual seekers and travellers alike, Simple Guides aims to open the doors of perception. Together the books provide a reliable compass to the world’s great spiritual traditions, and a point of reference for further exploration and discovery. By offering essential insights into the core values customs and beliefs of different societies, they also enable visitors to be aware of the cultural sensibilities of their hosts, and to behave in a way that fosters mutual respect and understanding.

Islam - Simple Guides

Guides, Simple

Encyclopedias & Subject Guides

Kuperard

Simple Guide to France, as with all titles in this series, offers the reader a unique focus on the customs, etiquette and way of life in France today, providing a wealth of 'insider' knowledge in an easily accessed, pocket book format.  18 b/w illustrations + map

The Simple Guide to France Customs & Etiquette (SIMPLE GUIDES CUSTOMS AND ETIQUETTE)

Photography & Video

Paul Norbury

Simple Guide to Islam (Simple Guides: World Religions)

Religion & Spirituality

Islam

Simple Guide to France: Customs & Etiquette

Politics & Social Sciences

Social Sciences

Global Books Ltd

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