Attractive Performances. Ancient Greek Dance: three preliminary studies.

Gieben, Amsterdam, 1997. XIX,451p. Theses. Original gilt titled red cloth. Reading ribbon. Wirestitched summary in Dutch as well as theses loosely inserted. Diss. Rijksuniversiteit Leiden. ?Despite the well-documented importance of dance in ancient Greece, most studies of ancient Greek culture hardly mention dance at all. (?) This wide-ranging study seeks to redress the balance by proposing a research model to set scholars on a new course. The work is divided into three preliminary and interrelated studies. The first part is a historiography of the work already done since A.D. 600 up to the present. This include not only histories written about ancient Greek dance, but examples of how attempts to reconstruct or capture the spirit of the dance have influenced the development of Western theatrical dance. (?) The second part is a critical overview of texts and images as sources for the study of ancient Greek dance. There is a huge problem in moving from static text or image to movement; a picture only has worth as a historical document if accompanied by word of interpretation. (?) No technical treatise dealing with dance is at present known to have survived. (?) Greek painted pottery is the most important source of dance imagery, but we need to be sure that the artisan intended to portray dance. (?) Scholars need to focus not on ?how? the ancient Greeks danced but on the question of ?what dance was all about?(p.273). For this, fresh source criticism and a model for future research is required. Part three provides a theoretical framework for the study of dancing at public events in ancient Greece. (?) This book provides a useful overview of a vast subject, bringing together work done by dancers, dance historians, and classical specialists. It highlights the pervasive influence of ancient Greek dance on the development of Western theatrical dance, as well as the problems besetting attempts to reconstruct actual Greek dances.? (FRANÇOISE CARTER in The Classical Review (New Series), 1999, pp.189-190).