Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Smith makes a convincing case for the many ways in which social participatory dance can bring bodies together in public spaces to assert their right to be present and to critique dominant values and power structures. . . . Certainly ambitious." --
World of Music"His research is extraordinarily meticulous and comprehensive. . . . A vital resource for anyone invested in the potency of dance as a platform for social justice." --
Journal of Dance Education"A respected musicologist and vernacular musician, Smith offers a sprawling overview of vernacular dance in the US as evidence of people's 'contesting, constructing, and reinventing social orders'. Highly recommended." --
Choice"Ambitious study." --
Journal of Southern History"A very ambitious and impressive study. The breadth and scope of the book are remarkable. It is highly engaging and readable and expands our understanding of the potential of dance (and music/sound) to serve as a potent force for social engagement."--Julie Malnig, editor of
Ballroom, Boogie, Shimmy Sham, Shake: A Social and Popular Dance Reader