American Dancing From the Cakewalk to the Moonwalk

Question: What bodies are marginalized in those same spaces? What struck you in this book? What didn't you know that stood out to you? What bothered you? What excited you? What did you pause at and say to yourself, I want to see that dance! Because of how American dancing came about, there is discussion of blackface as well as racial relations in America. How did that strike you? Other thoughts? Answer: A recently published book by Megan Pugh is American Dancing: From the Cakewalk to the Moonwalk It takes the reader through a journey of what it means to be American, which she does through providing the readers with an analysis of American dance. In the book John Martin, the New York Times dance critic from 1927 to 1962, perspective has been mentioned. According to whom the Native and black American art was not the real art of the people of America. He further states that, he perceives the fact that, Americans had a behavioral pattern of being imperial power, capture and enslaves Africans. But he argued that non-white should not have been assimilated. The book further incorporated the perspective of Martha Graham, a modern dance choreographer and a friend of John Martin. But it can be stated here that this presented notion lacks completeness in terms of providing the readers with the survey and analysis of American-ness in dancing. Megan Pugh in her book American Dancing: From the Ca kewalk to the Moonwalk did not mention about Isadora Duncan West Side Story, Mikhail Baryshnikov or Alvin Aileys Revelations due to which the survey falls short of its completeness. It needs to be mentioned here that, though she provides the readers with an in-depth analysis of the ways in which Native American culture have impacted the dance form of Americans. She has further mentioned in the book, the way in which Americans have created a popular culture unique in its own way that created a sensation abroad- the cakewalk (Pugh). But in this process she fails to discuss regarding the efforts but forward by American modern dance to assimilate and absorb the influence of Native American culture upon it. At number of occasions it can also be noticed that the impact of African-American dance artists have been exaggerate by her. In her discussion, Pugh when describing the way the man in George Balanchines the pas de deux Agon (1957) lowers the women into a split and lifts her up, she is of the opinion that it looks an alteration of the way the Nicholas Brothers slide and jump into split and without any effort lifts themselves (MACAULAY). But she fails to emphasize on the fact that supported split also occurs in the pas de deux of Balanchines Appollo that source of which is the can-can. The chapter one of the book on Mr. Taylor is the least agreeable chapter of the book. The writing in this portion seems like news release. A major flaw of the book is its main focus being limited to black dance and dancers. It can be concluded by stating that there are number of portions and aspects in the book that requires to be mentioned and provides the readers with some new enlightening perspective. The descriptions of 1903 films attract the readers. But in her effort of charting its integration with ballet she could have gone into further depth. In this process she could have incorporated Leonide Massines masterpiece La Boutique Fantasque But the fact that the author does not analyze dance history as a scholar rather shares it like an experience to the readers act as a major pulling factor for them (David). The narration of the book is another major strength of the book. The fact that with the help of narration of the book she establishes the perspective that American dance form is the assimilation of the contributions of African Americans which consists of both slave and free which is the core essence. This helps the readers to understand and have an enriched idea regarding the main perspective to understand the perspective of the formation of American dance. References David, Martin A. "New York Journal Of Books | Book Review". Nyjournalofbooks.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 23 July 2016. MACAULAY, ALASTAIR. "Breaking News, World News Multimedia". Nytimes.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 23 July 2016. Pugh, Megan. America Dancing. 2015. Print.