The Oxford Handbook Of Dance And Reenactment: Exploring the Intersection of Movement and History

Dance is not just a form of entertainment or a means of expression; it is also a powerful tool for understanding and preserving history. The Oxford Handbook of Dance and Reenactment delves into the fascinating world where movement and historical narratives intertwine, offering a comprehensive exploration of this unique discipline.

From traditional folk dances to modern choreographies inspired by historical events, dance has been used throughout the centuries to tell stories and connect people across time. Dance enables the reenactment of historical events, bringing them to life in a way that words alone cannot accomplish. This essential handbook, compiled by renowned scholars in the field, sheds light on the significance of dance as a vehicle for historical preservation and understanding.

The Importance of Dance in Preserving History

Dance is often seen as a dynamic form of art, constantly evolving and transforming with each era. However, this versatility also allows it to bridge the gap between the past and the present. As history is sometimes lost in the pages of textbooks or overshadowed by more popular narratives, dance serves as a physically embodied representation of historical events, cultures, and identities.

The Oxford Handbook of Dance and Reenactment (Oxford Handbooks)

by E A Porter (Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	17616 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	680 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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The Oxford Handbook of Dance and Reenactment emphasizes the inherent connection between movement and memory. Dance enables the transmission of historical knowledge from one generation to another, preserving traditions and stories that might otherwise be forgotten. By reenacting historical events through movement, dancers offer a visceral experience of the past, allowing audiences to engage with history on a deeper level.

Exploring the Oxford Handbook of Dance and Reenactment

This comprehensive handbook is divided into six parts, each exploring different facets of dance as a medium for reenacting history:

1. Dance as Historical Reconstruction

This section delves into the various ways in which dance can be used to reconstruct historical events. From meticulously recreating courtly dances of the Renaissance to choreographing powerful contemporary interpretations of major historical events, these chapters provide insights into the creative processes behind historical reenactment through dance.

2. Dance and Cultural Memory

Dance has always been intertwined with cultural identity, and this section discusses how it plays a vital role in preserving and transmitting cultural memory. From Indigenous dances that honor ancestral traditions to immigrant communities celebrating their roots through traditional dance forms, these chapters explore the intersection of dance, cultural identity, and historical memory.

3. Dance and Historical Narratives

Historical narratives are not confined to written texts; they can also be expressed through movement. This section explores how dance can convey historical narratives, shedding light on significant events, societal changes, and personal experiences in ways that words alone cannot capture.

4. Dance and the Reenactment of Historical Spaces

Dance is not limited to stages or dance studios; it can also be used to breathe life into historical spaces. This section examines how dance can reenact and revitalize historical architecture, landscapes, and urban environments, offering new perspectives on the history embedded within those spaces.

5. Dance, Authenticity, and Recreation

The question of authenticity is central to historical reenactment. This section explores the complexities surrounding the recreation of historical dances, investigating issues related to historical accuracy, cultural appropriation, and the creative liberties taken in the process of reenactment.

6. Dance and Historical Studies

Lastly, this section focuses on the academic study of dance and its intersections with the field of history. From methodological approaches to the challenges and opportunities presented by dance as historical evidence, these chapters delve into the scholarly discussions surrounding dance and its contributions to historical studies.

Why You Should Dive into The Oxford Handbook of Dance and Reenactment

Whether you're an avid dancer, a history enthusiast, or simply curious about the ways in which movement can illuminate the past, The Oxford Handbook of Dance and Reenactment offers a rich and insightful resource. Through its interdisciplinary approach and diverse range of topics, this handbook celebrates the power of dance as a form of historical preservation and understanding.

By combining the realms of dance and reenactment, this publication opens up new possibilities for engaging with history. It invites readers to explore the physicality, emotion, and narratives embedded within various dance forms, highlighting the often-overlooked connections between movement and historical memory.

So, dive into The Oxford Handbook of Dance and Reenactment, and journey through the captivating world where movement and history embrace. Let the power of dance transport you to different eras, cultures, and perspectives, and discover the transformative potential it holds as a tool for preserving and understanding our shared human heritage.

The Oxford Handbook of Dance and Reenactment (Oxford Handbooks)

by E A Porter (Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	17616 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	680 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

The Oxford Handbook of Dance and Reenactment brings together a cross-section of artists and scholars engaged with the phenomenon of reenactment in dance from a practical and theoretical standpoint. Synthesizing myriad views on danced reenactment and the manner in which this branch of choreographic performance intersects with important cultural concerns around appropriation this Handbook addresses originality, plagiarism, historicity, and spatiality as it relates to cultural geography. Others topics treated include transmission as a heuristic device, the notion of the archive as it relates to dance and as it is frequently contrasted with embodied cultural memory, pedagogy, theory of history, reconstruction as a methodology, testimony and witnessing, theories of history as narrative and the impact of dance on modernist literature, and relations of reenactment to historical knowledge and new media.